Police say drivers crossing closed University Bridge could face tickets

It appears some drivers in Saskatoon are still crossing the University Bridge, despite the span being closed to non-emergency vehicles while it undergoes repair work and refurbishment.

The bridge was closed to public traffic on Monday morning, but the city’s police force issued a reminder to drivers on Tuesday, warning that those who ignore the closure could end up facing a fine.

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“The only vehicles that are permitted to use the bridge during the closure are transit, emergency, and authorized vehicles,” the police force said in a statement.

“The Saskatoon Police Traffic Unit will be monitoring the situation and motorists who disobey road signs and continue to utilize the bridge will be ticketed under the City of Saskatoon Traffic Bylaw.”

The closure is expected to last eight to 10 weeks. Jay Magus, Saskatoon’s director of transportation said the situation isn’t ideal, but the work must be done.

“This will undoubtedly cause disruption for people, but these construction projects are necessary to protect our valuable infrastructure and expand our transportation systems, namely transit,” he said.

Paramedics adapt to bridge closure

Saskatoon EMS has continued operating “safely and effectively with no impact to patient care,” despite the bridge closure.

In an emailed statement shared on Tuesday, Medavie Health Services West Saskatoon said it is “proactively planning response and transport routes to ensure patients are taken to the most appropriate hospitals, based on call location, patient acuity and established destination guidelines.”

The statement said Medavie has been in regular contact with city officials concerning updates on the construction and coordinating alternative access plans, as needed. The emergency service follows a zone-based deployment model, the statement said, which allows adaptation to changing circumstances.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Libby Gray