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Two overpasses in Saskatoon struck by trucks carrying heavy equipment are drawing attention to a problem dealt with in another part of Saskatchewan.
Officials say the Highway 2 overpass over the Trans-Canada Highway in Moose Jaw had a long history of being hit by oversized loads before a major replacement project began.
“Between 20202 and 2022, the ministry is aware that the overpasses there were struck at least nine times, causing various degrees of damage,” said Dan Palmer with the Saskatchewan Highways.
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Before the replacement project began, the province installed additional warning systems at the Moose Jaw site to try to prevent future crashes.
Palmer said the bridge has signage alerting drivers of the clearance, along with over-height detection systems that trigger strobe lights in both directions of travel to alert approaching trucks carrying tall loads. Despite those warnings, the bridge was still struck multiple times.
The province began a $33.7-million project in 2025 to replace the aging bridges and raise each structure’s clearance height.
The original overpasses were about 58 years old and had a clearance of 4.5 metres, similar to the first overpass hit in Saskatoon. When construction is finished, the new structure will provide a clearance of 5.3 m, the ministry’s current standard for new bridge construction, and similar to the second overpass hit in Saskatoon.
The Moose Jaw project is still underway. The new northbound bridge opened to traffic in October, while contractors are expected to return in April to begin work on the southbound bridge. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Bridge collisions have come back into the spotlight after two separate incidents in Saskatoon this week involving trucks hauling heavy equipment. The crashes have prompted questions about whether more warning systems or infrastructure upgrades are needed to prevent future incidents.
Jason Aebig, CEO of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, said responsibility ultimately lies with drivers and trucking companies having oversized loads.
“Those costs would all roll down to the taxpayer ultimately,” Aebig said. “And it is simply not the taxpayer’s problem. This is a driver problem.”
Aebig said companies hauling tall equipment need to ensure their loads can safely pass under bridges before they begin their trip.
“Any consequence or cost as a result of these incidents needs to be borne by the people responsible, not the companies and the taxpayers of Saskatoon,” Aebig said.
The Ministry of Highways said drivers operating vehicles taller than 4.15 m are required to check bridge clearance and plan their route. The province has provided an online bridge and structural clearance table and requires permits for oversized loads.
While newer bridges are being built higher, Palmer said the responsibility begins with drivers knowing the height of their load and the route they plan to travel.
– with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson
