3rd overpass on Saskatoon's Circle Drive damaged in less than 3 weeks

Saskatoon police have identified the driver of a vehicle that struck a railway overpass above Circle Drive on Sunday — the third such collision in the city this month.

The first two collisions on March 5 and March 11 are estimated to have caused an estimated $750,000 in damages, according to a report city council will consider on Wednesday. Engineers were inspecting the underbelly of the most recently damaged overpass Monday morning.

"The driver of the vehicle has been identified and police are currently working with the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol moving forward regarding this file," Saskatoon police said in an email Monday.

City hall and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway company share jurisdiction for the overpass, with CPKC responsible for the train tracks and the deck and the city responsible for the infrastructure underneath, according to an email from the city.

The overpass, which has a clearance of five metres above the roadway, according to the posted height, is located south of the Attridge Drive overpass, which has a posted height of 5.2 metres.

CPKC structural engineers completed an inspection Monday and company spokesman Patrick Waldon said the rail line was "operating normally." One lane of Circle Drive was closed temporarily Monday to allow for the inspection, but all restrictions were later removed.

CPKC did not reply to questions seeking clarity on whether the company will pay for repairs or whether it pursues compensation in court in incidents like these.

"Knowing load heights are the responsibility of professional drivers as are vehicle weights and being fit to drive," city hall communications officials said in an email.

The email said the city has not considered early warning measures about potential danger, like ones being tested by the provincial government in British Columbia, citing "potential liabilities" should such a system fail.

Minister of Highways Kim Gartner told reporters Monday that ministry personnel would inspect every overhead structure in the provincial highways system. 

"I really don't know why so many have been struck in such a short span," Gartner said of the incidents in Saskatoon. He said the ministry would also review fines.

SGI did not immediately reply to questions about potential safety measures in response to the overpass collisions in Saskatoon.

But city hall plans to approach SGI and the Saskatchewan Trucking Association for an "over-height hauling education campaign," according to the report headed to council.

That same report says repairs to the Highway 16 overpass above Highway 11 are expected to take another three weeks and one eastbound lane on Highway 16 will remain closed during repairs.