Repairs are getting underway on the "old bridges" across the North Saskatchewan River.
Scaffolding has been erected to allow for repairs to the concrete piers. Originally, Vector Construction had been hired by the Town of Battleford to do the work for $100,000 plus taxes, but that amount was upped to $250,000 in August.
Monday evening, Battleford's mayor, Derek Mahon, said the River Valley Advisory Committee was contributing $100,000. He said the repairs should take about three weeks.
The bridges were built in 1908, and when considered a single entity, comprise the oldest existing highway bridge in the province, the longest of its type.
The bridges no longer serve traffic between Battleford and North Battleford, however. Since the provincial highways department built a second bridge over the North Saskatchewan River for traffic northbound on Highway 4 and westbound on Highway 16, the old bridges were closed to through traffic.
The span over the north channel is open to foot and bicycle traffic and the south channel span is open to motorists to access Finlayson Island.
