Warm weather keeps active transit bridge investigation on hold

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This article was published 27/12/2023 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mild weather has delayed efforts to assess the structural integrity of The Forks Historic Rail Bridge, which has remained closed for months with no reopening date in sight.

The former railway structure, which allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Assiniboine River from South Point Park to The Forks, has been closed since an assessment in June revealed potential safety issues, The Forks North Portage chief executive officer Sara Stasiuk told the Free Press.

“We are doing some pretty extensive investigations with engineers to find out what exactly is wrong with it,” Stasiuk said, speaking Dec. 22, after an unrelated announcement.

“It is kind of deemed not safe at the moment, and we need to look at the structural steel and concrete to see what exactly the issue is and what our solutions might be.”

While the initial assessment is expected to be completed this winter, the work cannot begin until the river ice below freezes solid, allowing engineers and equipment to access the underside of the bridge.

At this point, the extent of required maintenance is unknown, Stasiuk said. “There is the potential that it could be closed for a long time, and that the work is very expensive and extensive.”

The Forks first alerted the public to the Winnipeg bridge’s indefinite closure in social media posts June 5, but it has not released subsequent updates, frustrating some active transit proponents.

“You’d think they would actually be more forthcoming and give at least some proper notice or knowledge to people about what is going on, letting people know where they are at with it and how long it’s going to take,” said Tim Woodcock, owner of Woodcock Cycle Works.

“Even if they don’t have all that completely, just some communication would be helpful because it is a main artery for people commuting. Whether by walking or cycling, that’s a very popular route to get through to St. Boniface or vice versa.”

The lack of information highlights a disparity between cyclists and motorists, Woodcock said, asserting the latter receives regular updates when traffic routes are disrupted.

Cyclists and pedestrians who are familiar with the bridge have found alternative routes in the interim, but newcomers or visitors to the city might find themselves stranded — particularly if they rely on cycling maps provided by the City of Winnipeg, which still present the bridge as an active route, Woodcock said.

“It’s pretty straightforward, things do wear out and (The Forks is) doing it for people’s safety, well, come out and say that,” he said. “You might wonder why people get upset about it … but when there is no information whatsoever, it opens it up to speculation and people look at it in more of a negative light then it needs to be.”

Such speculation includes a belief among some in the cycling community the closure was possibly influenced by the May 31 collapse of an elevated walkway at Fort Gibraltar that sent 17 people to the hospital, Woodcock said.

The Forks has repeatedly said the Historic Rail Bridge inspection was routine and unrelated to the incident at the nearby site.

Stasiuk acknowledged the impact of the closure and offered assurances that further updates and information will be released to the public as they are available.

“It’s a huge impact. It’s super frustrating and disappointing for active transportation,” she said. “We recognize that it’s a huge deal, but safety (comes) first.”

Construction on The Forks Historic Rail Bridge began in 1913, placing it among a raft of aging local structures that continue to carry pedestrians and traffic despite being more than a century old. Others include the Redwood/Harry Lazarenko Bridge (1907-08), Louise Bridge (refurbished for automobile traffic in 1910) and Elm Park Bridge (1912-13).

The Arlington Bridge (1910-12) closed indefinitely Nov. 21, due to safety concerns relating to its structural integrity.

That closure has been similarly disruptive for cyclists and pedestrians travelling in the northwest region of the city, Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said.

“The deciding factor for somebody who is considering cycling is not the best part of the ride, but the worst part,” Cohoe said. “The city is working to close those gaps… but as we close those gaps, it’s obviously critical that we don’t open new gaps — and these are both two new gaps.”

Cohoe said if the rail bridge assessment identifies the need for extensive reconstruction, he would like to see the city pitch in to help The Forks cover the expense and ensure the active transit ”thoroughfare” is not permanently closed.

— with files from Jura McIlraith

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca