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Coteau Street East bridge will come down by 2027, council decides

City council has officially decided to kill the Coteau Street East bridge, but there is no rush to demolish the structure despite the apparent urgency to do so promoted in previous reports.
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The Coteau Street East bridge. Photo courtesy Associated Engineering

City council has officially decided to kill the Coteau Street East bridge, but there is no rush to demolish the structure despite the apparent urgency to do so promoted in previous reports. 

During its May 24 regular meeting, council voted 4-3 to have city administration proceed with an inspection schedule of the bridge and provide regular reports about the structure’s condition. 

Councillors Dawn Luhning, Jamey Logan and Kim Robinson were opposed, while Mayor Clive Tolley and councillors Crystal Froese, Doug Blanc, Heather Eby and Dawn Luhning were in favour. 

Furthermore, council voted 4-3 to have city administration make no further repairs to the bridge between now and when it’s demolished, which could happen between now and 2027.

Opposed were Robinson, Luhning and Froese, while in favour were Tolley, Logan, Eby, and Blanc.

Lastly, council voted 6-1 to have administration include road remediation and paving of Home Street in future capital planning initiatives and arrange for analysis and capital improvements to the two at-grade rail crossings on that street. 

Luhning was opposed.

The Moose Jaw Express will have a separate story about council’s discussion on this issue.

Background

Council had originally decided during its 2021 budget discussions to tear down the 109-year-old bridge and split the $190,000 demolition costs with Canadian National Railway (CNR). However, area residents pushed back and, in September and November, asked that the structure be preserved

Council authorized city hall to speak to CNR again to determine if the company would share costs to refurbish the bridge. 

A previous council report indicated it would cost $1.8 million for minor maintenance of the bridge and replacement in 2025, $1.1 million for conversion to a pedestrian bridge and replacement in 2025, $2.7 million for major rehabilitation and replacement in 2035, and $2.2 million for conversion to a pedestrian bridge and full replacement in 2035.

Bridge re-assessment

Associated Engineering re-inspected the Coteau Street East bridge — built in 1913 — in February and determined the structure’s overall condition had declined compared to the last assessment in 2020, explained Stephen Chiasson, AE’s manager of bridges and structures.

 AE produced a report in April, which showed the decline was related to the continued deterioration of the concrete abutments, structural coatings and main load-carrying structural steel girders, he continued. Several parts have corroded extensively, while there is a “complete section loss” in one girder that reduces capacity.

“These defects continue to worsen … (and) will continue to deteriorate without intervention,” Chiasson said. “As the concrete continues to deteriorate, some members could become unsupported, which would lead to the closure of the bridge.”  

The re-assessment report does not recommend closing the bridge now because of the low loads it carries and the location of the defects, he continued. However, the report gives city administration ideas to monitor the structure to determine when closing is necessary. 

AE also conducted an impact assessment study in February that counted vehicles and pedestrians using the structure, Chiasson added. The company then spoke with area residents and learned that, without the bridge, major investments would be required to improve Home Street as an alternative option for pedestrians, including the two uncontrolled rail crossings for safer passage.

Do nothing and demolish

“With consideration to the remaining 14 structures under city responsibility and the limits of capital dollars, administration found the best option for the bridge is to do nothing and demolish in 2027 … ,” said Bevan Harlton, director of engineering services. 

“(Furthermore), CN Rail is not prepared to commit funding or cost-sharing toward refurbishment or replacement of this bridge.”

The bridge’s present net value is $720,000, including $190,000 for demolition and $530,000 to improve Home Street East, Harlton continued. 

The additional costs include $145,000 for upgrades to the driving lane surface, $165,000 for construction of a sidewalk, $50,000 for the rail crossing upgrades, $20,000 for fencing and $150,000 in contingency funding. 

Harlton added that he would pursue funding for improvements to the at-grade rail crossings via Transport Canada’s Grade Crossing Improvement Program. 

The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 13. 

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