New bridge across the Red River along PR 201, east of Letellier

Motorists driving along PR 201 east of Letellier now have a solid concrete bridge to drive on as they cross the Red River.

The new structure, which took about a year and a half to build, is now open to all levels of traffic and officially puts an end to the fear and anxiety that many motorists felt when crossing the old bridge. The bridge carries regular highway and farm traffic across the Red River.

The old span had weight restrictions on it, which was a huge frustration for farmers hauling heavy loads. It also looked antiquated and beaten up, which created some nervous moments for motorists crossing it. Ron Weatherburn of Manitoba Transportation says there is still more work to do on this project.

Weatherburn adds the bridge has been designed so that traffic will not be restricted when the Red River floods.

A walkway along the new bridge accommodates pedestrian traffic. The old bridge can be seen on the left side of the picture.