Green bridge’s quiet opening
Tallis Newkirk has lived in Saskatoon for less than a week, but he’s already making good use of one of the city’s most innovative amenities.
The so-called green bridge over McOrmond Drive connecting parts of the Evergreen neighbourhood on the eastern edge of the city has quietly opened for cyclists and pedestrians.
The bridge, believed to be the first of its kind in an urban setting in Canada, features Plexiglas siding and a concrete bike path. The landscaping on either side of the path still needs to be completed, but people are already using the bridge.
“It looks like it’s going to be wonderful when it’s finally done,” said Newkirk, who lives on Manek Road just west of the bridge.
Having moved to Saskatoon from the Northwest Territories less than a week ago, he was walking his dog to the bridge on Tuesday while one of his four children biked alongside.
The bridge has been mostly complete for about a year, with landscape work still remaining to complete the project. Dirt surrounds the concrete bike path and weeds grow near the side of the bridge.
Although it’s pretty quiet during the day, residents who live nearby say it’s well used in the evening.
“Lots of people are back and forth at night,” said Lyle Ackerman, who lives on nearby Arscott Crescent. “I like it. Definitely something that’s unique in this area. Once it’s done, it will be very nice.”
The bridge is destined to become a more vital part of the neighbourhood when the new P3 high schools open on Manek Road sometime in 2017. The exterior already looks like the building is nearing completion.
The bridge was conceived by City of Saskatoon land branch staff to find a way to connect the two sides of the Evergreen community. The idea is based on the wildlife bridges in and near Banff National Park that allow animals to pass safely over the Trans-Canada Highway.
It’s certainly the only bridge of its kind in Saskatchewan. The bridge cost about $3 million to build; landscaping is expected to cost about $1 million to $1.5 million. The bridge was paid for by money collected from lot sales in the community.
According to City of Saskatoon statistics, Evergreen’s population tripled from 2014 to 2015; however, at about 3,280, it remains well short of its intended capacity of 12,622 people.
If that population is achieved, it would be higher than any Saskatoon neighbourhood in 2015. Silverwood Heights topped that list at 10,937.
The bridge will help connect a linear park system that snakes through the neighbourhood. The plan for about 7,500 people on Evergreen’s west side and about 5,000 on the east side suggests the bridge will become important as the neighbourhood fills out.
McOrmond Drive is expected to host more traffic in coming years, since it will connect to the north commuter bridge, which is slated to open by October 2018.