The Town of Nipawin is seeking answers regarding the future of the “Old Nipawin Bridge”.
The structure is currently 91 years old and is located just west of town, spanning the Saskatchewan River.
The bridge used to carry vehicular traffic, however, since mid-June of 2021, it no longer does, as it was closed due to safety concerns.
And while the bridge does still carry train traffic, according to the town, the ability to continue doing so over the foreseeable future is in question.
At their most recent council meeting, the town responded to the North East Area Transportation Planning Committee (NEATPC), which sent out a notice about the ability to nominate provincial highway projects, through two separate programs.
The first was the Segment Improvement Strategy, which is designed to look at the smaller repair jobs on provincial highways that address the overall driving experience of the traveller.
To be eligible under that program, the segment must be between 100 m and 5,000 m (5 km) in length, and multiple stretches on a highway can be submitted but the segments cannot touch each other.
The second was the Call for Projects, which is major capital upgrade projects. Area Transportation Planning Committee executive members can nominate three projects each year, which are initially screened based on a cursory review of utilization, road condition and safety factors.
Generally, a project should be 10 to 30 km in length and could include re-surfacing, widening, upgrading to primary weight, gravel reversion, or intersection improvements, while it will not include operational deficiencies including parking, mowing, line painting, or sight lines.
The Town has decided to apply for both, “as if the bridge were to collapse within the river, the impact from an environmental, logistical and public health and safety perspective at the least, would be considerable.”
“Maybe that’s a way to raise the profile of the need to make some decisions about how the Nipawin bridge project will go forward with the Department of Highways,” explained Mayor Rennie Harper.
“We actually really would like to get the Department of Highways to let us know what the plans are for the old Nipawin bridge. Is it to fix it, is it to close it permanently, what is the solution?”
The most recent report was completed by a consulting firm containing a Permission to Consult and Certificate of Authorization, registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
They identified issues in the steel piers, which included section loss on gusset plates and pier caps, out-of-plane bending, potential stress corrosion cracking, as well as issues in the concrete piers which include very severe disintegration and wide deep cracks.
If the provincial government were to invest in keeping it, rather than getting rid of it, it would cost $13 to 17 million to repair the approach spans, with an estimated annual maintenance cost of $75,000 and a 10-year life span.
Meanwhile, if they were to replace the approach spans and superstructure, it would cost $50 to 60 million, with an estimated annual maintenance cost of $50,000 and an additional 75-year life span.
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