By Angela Brown

Town grapples with Finlayson Island bridge repairs

Oct 2, 2018 | 2:24 AM

Battlefords residents accessing Finlayson Island can rest assured the walking and vehicle bridges are still considered safe to use however both require significant upgrades.

During Monday’s meeting, the Town of Battleford council agreed to allocate $70,000 for engineering work to determine how to stop erosion affecting a portion of the north walking bridge in particular.

Associated Engineering structural engineer Stephen Chiasson gave a report to council at the meeting. A study had been completed on the bridge’s condition over the summer.

“We noticed some significant erosion of the North Saskatchewan River bank, on the south side of the north bridge,” Chiasson said. “I know many people in town are aware of the ice jams that went through there this past spring, and a lot of the high water events that have gone through.”

Erosion a concern

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“What we noticed on that bridge was some pretty significant erosion on the embankment,” Chiasson said. “The erosion was getting to the point where it’s getting close to the bridge now, close to the bridge foundations. It’s not compromising them in any way yet, but if that erosion is allowed to continue it could get to the point where the end of the bridge could be compromised.”

Specifically, erosion of the riverbank slope on the southwest corner of the bridge has reached a critical point and is encroaching on the south abutment. If the erosion is not mitigated and worsens, then the bridge may not be usable, according to CAO John Enns-Wind’s written report to council. It was noted, this could pose a threat to the use of the bridge if the condition worsens.

The CAO recommended the $70,000 engineering work to be undertaken, with funding coming from short-term reserves. He also stated in his report he recommended the town commit to allocating funding for construction to mitigate erosion in 2019, the cost of which could range from $400,000 to $1.2 million, with costs to be determined after the engineering work has been completed.

Ultimately, he proposed the town commit to upgrading the bridges to meet the goal of reaching a five or 50 per cent standard within 10 years to ensure the bridges maintain their current use and set load allowance.    

Enns-Wind raised the issue the work to rehabilitate the old truss bridges joining Finlayson Island should actually be considered a regional project due to the bridges “iconic nature,” and since they are used by people from across the region.

The two bridges were first built in 1905. The town took over ownership of the bridges from the province in 2003. The province upgraded the bridges to extend their lifespan for another 15 years before handing them over to the town. However, now that 15 years have passed, the bridges again require extensive work to extend their life for another 15 years. 

Chiasson indicated the eight-tonne approved maximum weight restriction rating was still appropriate for the vehicle bridge as is. 

They are currently rated 2.45 out of nine for the north pedestrian bridge, and 2.50 out of nine for the south vehicle bridge.

Mayor Ames Leslie said there could be significant cost to the taxpayer which is a concern, specifically for erosion control, with $1.5 million for 2019, and another $1 million for 2020 estimated for the repairs, based on the report.

One councillor inquired if there were any grants available for this type of work.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow