Progress being made on Keewatin Channel Bridge repairs

Load restrictions should be coming off the Keewatin Channel Bridge in the next couple of weeks.

Director of Engineering and Infrastructure Greg Breen says work on the bridge is nearing completion.

“They are about 2/3rds through the scaffold removal on Keewatin Channel Bridge,” Breen told Kenora city council at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

“There are still a few repairs that need to be done on the tail ends of either side. We can’t fully remove the weight restrictions on the bridge until every last piece of scaffolding is off that bridge. That’s the code requirement.”

Breen says as soon as the contractor is able, both lanes of the bridge will be open again.

“People will continue to see the (load restriction) signage up but as soon as the contractor is able, they are going to be taking the lane closure that’s there now, and re-opening traffic in both directions. So, could be as early as a couple of weeks from now, or slightly later than that. They are trying to get through it as fast as they can.”

The Keewatin Channel Bridge been down to one lane for most of the winter as crews work to repair and replace steel beams, and re-coat the bridge.