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St. Vital Bridge Rehabilitation
The St. Vital Bridge Rehabilitation Project will breathe new life into the existing bridge over the Red River, and will also improve travel through the area for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users.
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Updates
March 2023 – Construction will begin on March 1, 2023. It will involve work on Dunkirk Drive/Osborne Street from Fermor Avenue to Rathgar Avenue and will impact traffic flow and intersections in various ways until mid-2024.
While there will be no disruptions to property access, the work will change traffic flow and cause delays through the area.
Stage 1 construction impacts – March 2023 to November 2023
Bridge impacts:
- West deck will be closed
- Traffic will be moved to the east deck only and limited to one lane in each direction
- West deck sidewalk will be closed
- East deck sidewalk will remain open
Construction limits:
- Work will start on the stretch of road from Jubilee Avenue to south of the Kingston Row access road
- Limits will later this spring extend north to Rathgar Avenue and south to Fermor Avenue
Stage 2 construction impacts – November 2023 to October 2024
Bridge impacts:
- East deck will be closed
- Traffic will be moved to the west deck only and limited to one lane in each direction
- East deck sidewalk will be closed
- West deck sidewalk will remain open
Adjacent impacts:
- Road work will continue from Rathgar Avenue to Fermor Avenue
- Tunnels under the bridge will close over the winter for repair and improvements
Please note: throughout construction, Dunkirk Drive will become a Note that this section of road is a Designated Construction Zone (DCZ) with the speed limit reduced to 50 km/hr.
Travelers through the area should expect significant delays and consider alternate routes such as St. Mary’s Road or Pembina Highway. Transit reroutes will also be in place and can be found on Twitter @TransitAlerts.
Upon completion of construction in 2024, the speed limit on Dunkirk Drive from Clare Avenue to the projection of Glenview Avenue will be reduced to 60 km/h from the current 70 km/h.
We recognize this project will cause some inconvenience and apologize for the disruption.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns at 204-977-8370.
February 2023 – A presentation outlining the final proposed project design, construction considerations, and active transportation infrastructure details is now available in the documents tab.
January 2023 – We are excited to now have a final proposed design for the project. Drawings were issued for tender in December 2022, with plans to start construction in the coming months.
We will soon hold a second meeting with previously identified stakeholders to share the design, construction considerations, and more details on planned active transportation infrastructure.
December 2022 – In Spring 2022, we formed and met with the St. Vital Bridge Rehabilitation public art working group to develop a set of recommendations for the future public art component of this project. These meetings resulted in a set of guiding principles and an evaluation matrix of key stories and themes we shared with the Winnipeg Arts Council, who are coordinating the public art project.
Review the Public Art Working Group Public Art Recommendations
Background
The St. Vital Bridge Rehabilitation project will guide rehabilitation of the bridge over the Red River from concept to construction; we are currently in the preliminary design phase.
Scope: The project will include rehabilitation on the bridge structures themselves, as well as improvements to sidewalks, active transportation infrastructure, and the Transit network, and will add 50 years to the lifespan of the bridge.
Project area: Beyond the bridge structure itself, the project area encompasses Osborne Street from Rathgar Avenue to Jubilee Avenue, and Dunkirk Drive from the ramps at Kingston Row to Fermor Avenue.
Project components:
- Rehabilitation of twin bridge structures including widened bridge decks
- Widened pathways
- Kingston Row off/on-ramp improvements
- Improved active transportation connections
- Improved Transit stops and amenities
More information:
- Information about project development and other construction-related topics will be posted on this webpage throughout the project.
- If you have questions or comments regarding the project, please reach out to Meaghan Pauls at mpauls@scatliff.ca or 204-927-3444 ext. 231.
Documents
| Document Name | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder presentation - March 2022 | 2022-03-25 | Presentation |
| Public Art Work Group - Public Art Recommendations | 2022-09-13 | Report |
| January 2023 stakeholder presentation | 2023-03-02 | Presentation |
| Construction notice | 2023-02-24 | Letter |
| Navigable Waters Notice August 2023 | 2023-08-01 | Notice |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the budget for the project?
The budget for the St. Vital Bridge rehabilitation project is approximately $49 million. Developing a preliminary cost estimate for construction, also known as a Class 3 estimate, is part of this preliminary design work taking place in 2022.
What does "preliminary design" mean?
Preliminary design is the first step in planning any major construction project. It is through this phase of the project that we will develop a draft concept and design for the bridge rehabilitation.
What improvement are planned for the bridge structure itself?
Little known fact: the St. Vital Bridge is actually two bridges! As part of the rehabilitation project, we need to replace the concrete bridge decks, strengthen the steel girders, remediate the foundation, stabilize the riverbank, and widen the decks to accommodate active transportation.
What improvements are planned for pedestrian and cycling facilities are planned?
The draft preliminary design includes the following changes, which will be designed for accessibility using Universal Design principles:
- Adding 3.5-metre-wide multi-use pathways leading to the bridge from existing paths and on-street cycling routes
- Integrating a fully accessible connection to the pedestrian tunnels under Osborne Street and Dunkirk Drive
What improvements to transit are planned?
Transit stop improvements include:
- Relocating and consolidating three Transit stops on the access roads to Kingston Row
- Adding three new transit stops at Fermor Avenue and Dunkirk Drive
- Adding a new pedestrian crossing across Dunkirk Drive at Fermor intersection to align with the Transit stop
- Upgrading existing transit stops with amenities like heated shelters
Why might the speed limit change along Dunkirk Drive and on the bridges?
This planned speed limit reduction will help make the roadway safer while minimizing the amount of changes to the roadway geometry. Reducing the speed removes the need for widened lanes, acceleration and deceleration lanes, extra guardrails and roadway signage, and additional bus-bay lanes – all of which improves sightlines for all road users and creates a more comfortable experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
When will construction occur?
Construction is anticipated to take place in 2023 and 2024.
Last update:
August 2, 2023