File Photo from June 2023
Fixing the sewer line at the scene of an encampment fire under the University Bridge is not a one-day operation. Fire Chief Doug Wegren says it has been a complex situation with a confined space where it is challenging to get the water down and then the bitter cold freezing the water to the bridge and the surroundings. The fire rekindled a few times, but it is out now and fire crews continue to monitor it.
Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Management says the sewer line failed because it melted from the fire, so they built 500 metres of pipeline to the other side of the bridge, to bypass the melted pipe and hooked it up to the sewer system on the other side, as a temporary fix. It is now operational.
Lemke says right now the bridge is encased in ice, so before it can open again, they need to see what’s happening with the bridge. The initial assessment is there are no structural concerns. He expects there will be an inspection Wednesday morning, and then it depends on what they see whether the bridge will open. Lemke cautions that even if it does open, there will more than likely be traffic restrictions for awhile. Arrangements are being made for a contractor to repair the damaged sanitary sewer line.
The pedestrian walkway on the south side of the University Bridge remains open, but the Meewasin Trail underneath the east side of the bridge is closed.
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Video of the leak under University Bridge: University Bridge – Jan 20 2025
When firefighters responded to a fire in the 700 block of 25th Street East they could see smoke and flames coming from under the University Bridge.
The call came in at 9:57 p.m. and the Saskatoon Fire Department says it was a very difficult to reach the fire with the situation exacerbated by the extreme cold and location of the fire which made it difficult for fire crews to extinguish.
Sewage is leaking into the South Saskatchewan river due to the fire under the University Bridge last night and this morning the City of Saskatoon says University bridge is shut down completely due to that fire which is believed to have been caused by an encampment.
Russ Munroe, Director of Saskatoon Water, says sanitary sewer infrastructure is compromised, and a bypass will be set up today. As far as they know the only damage is a plastic sewer pipe, not electrical nor water distribution.
Although the temperature under the bridge from the fire is dropping Assistant Fire Chief Rob Hogan says until the cold temperatures let up and they can get crews really into the space where the fire occurred, they won’t be able to officially confirm the fire is out.
Detours are in place and commuters are advised to find a different route. As well if you take a bus that usually goes over University Bridge expect a change in route and possibly pick up times so the City advises to check for transit service alerts.
The walkway under the bridge is closed. The south walkway on top of the bridge is open and the north pedestrian bridge is closed in case they have to use it to install the temporary sewer line. City engineers were on scene Sunday night, the bridge has been inspected and there are no structural concerns with the bridge.
Meanwhile firefighters also battled a garage fire in the bitter cold this weekend. The call came in just before midnight on Friday. Fire crews could see smoke and flames coming from a detached garage as they rolled up to the fire in the 100 block of Avenue N South.
The fire was completely extinguished, and all occupants had safely evacuated with no injuries reported.
A fire investigator is identifying the cause, origin and damage estimate.
