Why has one lane at the north end of the northbound traffic bridge over the river at the Battlefords been closed for several weeks?
Some say it’s to make everyone to slow down before they get to the construction area ahead, some say it’s just because “they can,” some say there must be work to get done, but ask why it’s been blocked when no one is working yet.
The correct answer is, yes, there is work planned – and it’s been blocked off because, until that work is done, there is a safety problem at that point.
According to Doug Wakabayashi, executive director of Communications and Customer Service Branch, Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, during repairs to the northbound bridge, damage to one of the bearings was found. Bridge bearings, he explained to the New-Optimist, provide the resting surface between the bridge girders and the piers.
“The reason the lane is closed is because we want to keep the weight of traffic off the bearing for safety reasons,” he said in an email this week. “Engineers are currently working on a design for the repair to the bearing.
He said they currently estimate completion in mid-November.
“We know that this causes inconvenience for people who use the bridge. We thank everyone for their patience while we complete the repairs,” said Wakabayashi in his email.
Meanwhile, construction and repairs on the Highway 4 overpass over Highway 16, north of the traffic bridge and the Highway 16 overpass over Highway 4 south of the traffic bridge is winding down, although traffic westbound traffic wanting to use the latter have been detoured across the river and back this week.
There is also construction on the bridge over the Battle River on the highway to Wilkie yet to be completed.
There are not workers on these sites every day, so as long as the porta-potty is still there, assume there is still work to come.
