Construction on the Sturgeon Road bridge replacement is expected to start sometime in April or May, according to the city.

The city recently awarded the construction contract to PCL which will build the two new separate spans, said Darren Burmey, bridge projects engineer for the city’s public works department.

"It is subject to the contractor’s schedule," Burmey said, noting preliminary work is still ongoing and utility relocations are still being figured out.

The city is also still in the process of purchasing a piece of land at the Sturgeon Road and Portage Avenue (a former Esso gas station) to accommodate two turning lanes onto westbound Portage, Burmey said.

The first phase of construction will reduce traffic on Sturgeon Road over the bridge to a single lane in either direction. The city will first close off the northbound lanes and then close off the southbound lanes when the first span is complete.

"One thing we have to do is keep it open because it’s a route (for trucks and ambulances)," Burmey said. "Alternatives were looked at and it was decided this was the best way to do it."

The two-year project is expected to be completed by October 2013, Burmey said.

The cost of the project — initially estimated at $13 million at an open house last March — has risen to $15 million, said  Coun. Scott Fielding(St. James-Brooklands), chair of the city’s finance committee.

The shortfall was mitigated by charging $2.2 million against the 2013 capital budget, Fielding said.

"(The city) generally has a good estimate of what these projects will cost. Sometimes (the tenders) come in lower than anticipated which is a good thing, or sometimes they come in higher," Fielding said.

"We evaluate the tender, make sure all the bids hit our standards, and take the lowest bid."

The bridge, built in 1965, is expected to see traffic increase by 22% by 2030.

The bridge’s concrete and steel has deteriorated significantly during the last 45 years, according to the city. A 1980s study recommended the bridge be replaced and imposed weight restrictions on it that remain in effect. Modest repairs were completed on the bridge in the 1990s to extend its life.

The new bridge is expected to last 75 years.

The replacement will accommodate a new active transportation pathway under the bridge.

More information about bus stop relocations and traffic and pedestrian flow will be posted in coming weeks at www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/Sturgeon.

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matt.preprost@canstarnews.com