Eighth Street Bridge Closed To Motor Vehicle Traffic Until Engineering Assessment Complete

July 22, 2015

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon Engineering Department wishes to advise the public that the 8th Street Bridge will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic until further notice, pending final assessment of recent analysis on the structure’s condition.

The bridge’s northbound lane was closed to motor vehicle traffic in the late-afternoon on July 21st, 2015, and follows the closure of the bridge’s southbound lane on May 14th, 2015, due to the need for detailed engineering assessment on that specific lane’s expansion joints.

A follow-up site assessment from the City of Brandon’s Winnipeg-based consulting engineer has indicated the bridge’s load capacity has decreased. As a result, the consultant has recommended that the bridge be closed to all vehicle traffic until the City of Brandon and the consultant can discuss the detailed analysis. City of Brandon Engineering staff anticipate those conversations will begin in the coming days.

The bridge will remain open for pedestrian, bicycle traffic, and motorized disability scooters ONLY until further notice. Temporary eastbound-westbound traffic control devices currently in place at the south base of the 8th Street Bridge will remain to safely accommodate pedestrian traffic.

The City of Brandon would like to stress that there is no imminent public safety issue with relation to the bridge and that the closure has been put in place prudently and out of an abundance of caution. For context, the north portion of the 8th Street Bridge was constructed in 1934, while the south portion was constructed in 1968.

The City of Brandon asks for the continued patience and understanding of motorists and residents as it continues to assess the situation.