An extensive rehabilitation of the PTH 23 bridge over the Red River on the east side of Morris is complete and is expected to maintain transportation links for the town even during major floods. This announcement was made by Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
“The $30-million investment in the PTH 23 bridge will keep this important route open during major floods and extend its life by another four decades,” said Minister Ashton. “The bridge opened to traffic this summer and crews have now completed upgrades to the approach roads so that PTH 23 is better prepared for larger floods.”
The bridge deck was replaced with a new system of precast concrete deck panels and the steel girders have been strengthened. The riverbank slopes were also stabilized to prevent further movement and stress on the bridge piers.
“The improved bridge also has embedded ‘smart technology’ in the new concrete deck, enabling engineers to monitor the health of the structure,” said Minister Ashton. “The work on the PTH 23 bridge was part of record investments in provincial highways across the province during 2015 and was made possible through the $5.5-billion commitment to rebuild Manitoba’s core infrastructure.”
Although the annual road repair season is drawing to a close, motorists are reminded to slow down and drive safely when they see construction signs and flaggers at the roadside. Drivers are required to reduce speeds to specific limits in construction zones under the Highway Traffic Act.
