SASKATOON - The City of Saskatoon says the University Bridge is closed due to an apparent encampment fire under the bridge. Traffic detours are in place.
As of Monday morning, fire crews remain on the scene monitoring and extinguishing hot spots that have arisen due to the difficult access and confined space, stated the city in a release.
City engineers have been on scene overnight, the bridge has been inspected and there are no structural concerns with the bridge, said the city.
At 9:57 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a report of a fire underneath the University Bridge closest to the east riverbank. When SFD crews arrived they identified smoke and flames coming from underneath the University Bridge.
As a result of the fire, heat has melted the 400 mm sanitary sewer line under the bridge. This has led to a break in the sewer line and sewage is leaking onto the riverbank. The Water Security Agency has been notified.
Water and Wastewater crews are working to set up a bypass for the sewer line and doing modelling to ensure there is enough capacity so residents don’t experience sewer backups.
University Bridge is expected to remain closed to traffic for most of the day, however the south side pedestrian walkway will be open and accessible from the top. The Meewasin trail underneath the bridge on the east side of the river will remain closed due to the sewage leak.
Saskatoon Transit will be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.
