Stairwell, path under Albert Street Bridge closed during construction

Work is to continue through the year in Wascana Centre on the stormwater bypass required after a sinkhole formed near the Albert Street Bridge last summer.

A temporary stormwater bypass was installed at Speakers’ Corner in June, but the City of Regina said in a release Friday that “a permanent solution is required to redirect stormwater and restore the northwest entrance to Wascana Centre.”

As a result, nine large pumps near Speakers’ Corner will be reactivated this spring to manage the spring melt and rainstorms. The temporary solution east of the Albert Memorial Bridge will continue until a permanent solution is found.

The city release said construction is slated to begin in 2025, with planning around engineering and design to be done this year.

With the work being done in 2024, the stairwell and under-bridge path on both sides of the Albert Street Memorial Bridge will be closed throughout the year, but the promenade along the west end of Wascana Lake will stay open except during heavy rainstorms.

“The safety of Regina residents and Wascana Centre users is our No. 1 priority,” the city said in its release.

The release noted that because the work is being done on Treaty 4 land, the city has invited members of the Indigenous community to provide their perspectives on the project.