The Finlayson Island walking bridge shows considerable erosion at the current time (bottom right), compared to two weeks ago (top right). (submitted photo/Ames Leslie)

By Angela Brown

Public safety

Finlayson Island walking bridge and North Battleford boat launch closed

Jul 8, 2020 | 4:00 PM

Those planning outings in the Battlefords will want to keep in mind some recent closures impacted by significant rainfall in the area and high water levels for the North Saskatchewan River.

The Finlayson Island walking bridge and the North Battleford boat launch are both currently closed to the public.

The north span walking bridge — that runs from Finlayson Island to the North Battleford side of the North Saskatchewan River — has been closed since Monday due to the unexpected high water levels and issues surrounding bridge safety. However, the south span vehicle bridge — that leads from the town to Finlayson Island — remains open.

Town of Battleford public works manager Eric Bilanski said for the walking bridge there is significant erosion on the south lead-in to the structure where the bridge meets Finlayson Island.

“It’s an ongoing issue. But [with] these high water levels, we weren’t sure how much it is going to erode. So we are taking precautions for the safety of the public,” he said.

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The walking bridge will remain closed at this time.

The ground surface that leads on to the bridge is showing signs of erosion and appears to be caving back to the roadway which is a concern.

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said council decided to close the bridge after discussing the situation Sunday. The town installed fencing Monday to prevent access to the structure. The whole area is currently flooded.

“[At] the on-ramp, the bank has fallen away and it is almost perpendicular to the actual paved part, and almost underneath the paved part,” Leslie said. “That is why administration was supportive [when] council made the decision to close down the bridge at this point.”

Leslie said the town will need to have studies done to assess the situation. He said engineers will examine the structure next week.

“Between two high-water level events, flooding and one ice-jamming, definitely contributed to it,” Leslie said. “It has been the trend that we have been watching for a few years. The flow of the river is slowly changing and it is contributing to [the erosion] as well.”

Leslie said correcting the problem is not just a short-term “easy fix.”

“This is something council is going to have to really discuss as to what the future may look like,” he said.

Similar to the city, the town is asking people to stay clear of the North Saskatchewan River this week due to current high water levels. The significant rainfall overnight Tuesday and on Wednesday is also impacting river water levels that were already high previously.

Boat launch closed

For the City of North Battleford the boat launch is temporarily closed due to the high-water levels in the North Saskatchewan River.

According to the city’s statement, additional debris in the river and rapid currents are also a concern.

The city is asking people to avoid the North Saskatchewan riverbanks until the river water recedes. Rapid erosion poses a risk of sudden riverbank collapse, the city said.

The boat launch will remain closed until the city’s Director of Protective Services and Fire Chief Lindsay Holm determines conditions to be safe.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW