Facilities

South River Crossing

History

The south river crossing or south bridge is one of two crossings planned as the city approaches a population of 250,000.

Cycling Issues

The construction of the south river crossing is not far off. Cyclists need to be able to travel efficiently between the areas served by the proposed bridge and roadway.

This means, for example, that we should be able to make the trip from 11th Street and Circle Drive (Montgomery Place area) to Lorne Avenue (Exhibition area) by a route that is as direct as possible. There are plans for meandering pathways that create a long, circuitous route into the river valley.

Regardless of whatever facility may be included for the convenience of Meewasin Trail users, we need to make sure that cyclists' transportation needs are met. Of the "20-25 stakeholder groups" consulted, not one included cyclists.

Among the issues and concerns that the City hopes to address with the proposed crossing are the need to provide access to residential areas, reduce air pollution, reduce traffic on residential roadways, increase quality of life, provide access to business, reduce dependency on the private automobile, and address environmental concerns. Clearly, cyclists can contribute to the goals that the city wants to achieve with this project.

Our citizenry doesn't really think of Saskatoon as a "bicycling city", yet we have the highest rate of bicycle commuting of any Canadian city except Victoria.

City of Saskatoon information

River Crossing Studies

Visit the city River Crossing Studies page for more information. In addition to information about the public consultation process, there is also a drawing of the proposed bridge and roadways.

Comprehensive Bicycle Plan and Bicycle Facility Network Study

Cycling is increasingly popular, both as a recreational activity and as an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation. The City of Saskatoon has recognized that cycling is important to many residents and is working towards making Saskatoon a bicycle-friendly city.

Visit the city Cycling & Walking page for information on the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, Bicycle Facility Network Study and Recommended Plan, as well as other information of interest to cyclists and businesses who want to be more cyclist friendly.

Google Earth and Google Maps

A picture's worth a thousand words, so I've created some handy overlays, showing the proposed project in context with the rest of the city.

South River Crossing overlays

To see the South Bridge overlay in Google Earth, click here.

To see the South Bridge overlay in Google Maps, click here.

If you don't have Google Earth, you can download it here.

Bicycle Network Plan overlays

Compare the proposed South Bridge to the Bicycle Network Plan.

To see the Bicycle Network Plan in Google Earth, click here.

To see the Bicycle Network Plan in Google Maps, click here.

The Bicycle Network Plan shows that there is the need for at least the following access to the south river crossing:

• Cyclists using proposed shared use lanes along Wilson Crescent, Victoria Avenue and Hilliard Street will connect to the eastern section of the south river crossing. Access will be needed from Lorne Avenue, St. Henry Avenue and Diefenbaker Park.
• Cyclists using the shared use lanes along Pendygrasse Road, Clancy Drive, Eighteenth Street, Mountbatten Street and Fletcher Road will connect to the western section. Access will be needed from Eleventh Street and Circle Drive.
• Access will also be needed to Valley Road.