Speed limit set At 70 km/h on Mistawasis Bridge

The critters in Saskatoon’s small swale will have to contend with vehicles going 70 kilometres per hour if they want to cross the road that slices through their home.

City council voted Monday in favour of a 70 km/h speed limit for a new stretch of Mcormond Drive that will include the new Chief Mistawasis Bridge that opens next Tuesday.

The new extension of Mcormond will maintain the 50 km/h default speed limit through the Northeast Swale and then jump to 70 km/h past the intersection with Central Avenue.

Council opted to keep the speed limit low through the larger Northeast Swale to try to minimize the threat to both wildlife and motorists, and to try to conserve the biodiversity in the swale. “The small swale has not been understood as well as the Northeast Swale,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.

The small swale is a smaller version of the Northeast Swale, a grasslands area with ponds that is becoming increasingly rare on the Prairies. It’s located west of the Northeast Swale. Both lie within city limits and are home to a variety of plant, animal and bird species.

“From my understanding, it’s just as significant as the Northeast Swale,” Coun. Sarina Gersher said. Gersher and Coun. Mairin Loewen voted against the 70 km/ h limit.

Gersher failed to convince her colleagues to support a 60 km/h speed limit for the portion of the road that passes through the small swale that would rise to 70 km/h for the rest of Mcormond and the bridge.

The city’s acting general manager of transportation and utilities, Angela Gardiner, said such a split speed limit defies traffic engineering principles.

Council had heard the roadway was designed for 70 km/ h speeds. Council voted last month on a proposed 60 km/ h speed limit for the stretch, but it was defeated on a tied vote.

Coun. Hilary Gough said she did not think a lower speed limit would have reduced speeds.

“I really wish we’d just designed that road to be 60 (km/h),” Gough said. “So I’ll be supporting the 70 km/ h speed limit, not very happily, but I will support it.”