The St. Vital Bridge is a key transportation link in Winnipeg, connecting communities and supporting vehicle, pedestrian, and cycle travel. As the bridge aged, the City of Winnipeg sought a long-term solution to address deteriorating infrastructure, improve accessibility, and better accommodate active transportation. The City engaged our team to assess the structures, evaluate alternatives to rehabilitation, and develop a design that would extend service life while improving the corridor for all users.
Our extensive investigations informed the design. These included a Level 2 OSIM inspection, bridge load rating, deck condition assessment, hydraulic and geotechnical analyses, and environmental permitting. We obtained more than 100 concrete cores and conducted 250 rapid chloride tests to evaluate the structural condition. We also assessed several rehabilitation and widening concepts, which led to the selection of an alternative that shifts the roadway alignment and widens the bridge deck cantilevers to accommodate new 3-metre (9.8-foot) multi-use pathways while maintaining two travel lanes.
The project also included rehabilitation and reconstruction of approximately 1.64 kilometres (1.02 miles) of roadway, upgrades to two major intersections, and improvements to adjacent active transportation infrastructure as well as providing connectivity to existing paths and sidewalks. Two tunnel upgrades included concrete repairs, new lighting, heated floors for ice control, and improved accessibility. The plan also incorporated new overhead sign structures, navigation and path lighting, landscaping, and electrical improvements. Our team also provided additional services including land drainage improvements and a water main renewal.
Together, these upgrades are expected to provide approximately 50 years of additional service life to the bridge while creating a safer and more accessible corridor.
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