Expect some delays on the drive home in Saskatoon and possibly even on Thursday morning.

The University Bridge will remain closed for the Wednesday evening commute while the fire department continues its work underneath the surface of the structure. There was a fire very early this morning from an encampment under the bridge. The University Bridge has been closed to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians since late this morning and it will remain closed until further notice.

Motorists are encouraged to use Broadway Bridge, the Traffic Bridge or Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to get into or out of the downtown area. Five city transit routes are also affected—4, 6, Five bus routes are also affected . . . Numbers 4, 6, 43, 44, 45 and 46.

The Saskatoon Fire Department says the fire appears to have started from a mattress in an encampment on top of an archway under the bridge. The flames reached the underside of the bridge deck where old wooden forms used to repair the bridge in 1972 were exposed. This started a fire in a designed utility cavity that is difficult to reach. Detailed inspections will need to be conducted before the University Bridge can reopen.  Based on the preliminary assessment, there does not appear to be major structural damage.

More information is in the Saskatoon Fire Department News release from 3:40pm on Wednesday.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) continues to address a fire that is occurring on the underside of University Bridge. Fire crews are working with City engineers, Saskatoon Light & Power and Saskatoon Water to determine the extent of the fire and monitor the integrity of the bridge. SFD’s Command 9 unit is also on scene. 

The fire is under control, but firefighters continue to assess the scene for hot spots. As a precautionary measure, work crews are drilling into the bridge deck for firefighters to apply water at specific locations, controlling temperatures and avoiding risk to the bridge. 

The fire appears to have started from a mattress in an encampment on top of an archway under the bridge. The flames reached the underside of the bridge deck where old wooden forms used to repair the bridge in 1972 were exposed. This, in turn, started a fire in a designed utility cavity that is difficult to reach. 

Based on a preliminary assessment, there doesn’t appear to be any major structural damage to the University Bridge; however, further evaluations are necessary to determine the overall impact. Detailed inspections will be conducted to assess the bridge’s condition and confirm its safety prior to reopening.  

Maintaining the bridge’s safety and integrity is top priority. SFD, along with City engineers, Saskatoon Light & Power and Saskatoon Water will continue to closely monitor the situation. Once further inspections are done, work will begin on rectifying any potential damage.   

For your safety and ours, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to please stay away from the barricaded walkways at University Bridge.  

We ask drivers to reroute their commute: 

• From the east side of the bridge, drivers are encouraged to take Clarence Avenue to 12th Street and use the Broadway Bridge or use 8th street and use the Traffic Bridge or Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.  
• From the west side of the bridge, drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes downtown and to use the Broadway Bridge, Traffic Bridge, or Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.       

A timeline of when the bridge will be reopened is not known at this time.