Saskatoon City Council chooses contractor for two-bridge project

Saskatoon city council has chosen a contractor for construction of two bridges, the North Commuter Parkway and a replacement for the condemned Traffic Bridge.

At a special meeting held today at 1 p.m. CST., council unanimously approved the selection of a consortium called Graham Commuter Partners.

It was the lowest bidder and is within budget, city administrators told council. 

The consortium has 60 days to arrange financing and sign a contract. A report outlining financial details is expected to go to council in November.

Largest construction project in city's history

"This will be the City's largest construction project ever," said Dan Willems, who is overseeing the project for the city.

Graham Commuter Partners will build the bridges, as well as finance and maintain them for the next 30 years, while the city retains ownership.

The North Commuter Parkway includes a six-lane bridge and 9.3 kilometres of new arterial roadways to link the Marquis Industrial area with University Heights. Marquis Drive will be extended across the South Saskatchewan River, and connect with McOrmond Drive at Fedoruk Drive. Central Avenue will extend from Fedoruk Drive north to the new extension of McOrmond Drive.

The new Traffic Bridge will include two driving lanes and two three-metre wide pathways on each side of the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

At today's council meeting, Councillor Charlie Clark asked how soon final design of the new Traffic Bridge and the timeline for phasing construction will be released to the public. He was told those details won't be known until after Graham Commuter Partners closes the deal.

Clark told reporters he is particularly concerned about how approaches to the Traffic Bridge will be configured. He wants to minimize the impact on local traffic.

"I know there is a very strong interest in making sure that that traffic doesn't create more pedestrian hazards in a very busy — you have a high school at the top of the hill," Clark said. "You have a number of high rise apartments, you have a very popular ice cream store."

In particular, Clark wants to see separated bike lanes going on and coming off the bridge.

He also wants to ensure the bridge can be closed to traffic for community events "and becomes a real gathering place for the public on weekends and on evenings."

No payments until construction nearly done

The city will pay the consortium up to $120 million when the project is substantially completed, expected by October 2018. In a report to council, the city administration said this arrangement holds Graham Commuter Partners "accountable to meet the performance requirements as outlined in the Project Agreement."

The money will come from a $66 million grant through the federal government's PPP Canada Fund, a $50 million contribution from the province, surplus from the city's Neighbourhood Lane Development Fund, and borrowing.

Remaining construction costs will be paid in monthly instalments for 30 years.

Monthly operation, maintenance and rehabilitation payments will also be made for the next 30 years, and indexed to inflation annually.