{"id":14937,"date":"2025-01-30T22:24:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T22:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/city-of-saskatoon-installs-fence-to-deter-university-bridge-encampments-saskatoon\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T22:24:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T22:24:47","slug":"city-of-saskatoon-installs-fence-to-deter-university-bridge-encampments-saskatoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/city-of-saskatoon-installs-fence-to-deter-university-bridge-encampments-saskatoon\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Saskatoon installs fence to deter University Bridge encampments – Saskatoon"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In the past, University Bridge has been a popular spot for Saskatoon\u2019s homeless to camp beneath.<\/p>\n

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However, an encampment fire on Jan. 19 melted a sewer line running beneath the bridge, sending thousands of gallons of raw sewage onto the bridge and into the river valley below.<\/p>\n

The incident closed the bridge to traffic for days while the sewer line was repaired, though the damage to the Meewasin River trails is still being cleared. With the damaged sewer line repaired, the city is looking to keep future encampments out from under the crossing.<\/p>\n

At a city council meeting on Jan. 29th, the city announced its plans to erect a razor-wire fence below the bridge where encampments might be set up.<\/p>\n

Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block says the decision was made from concern for the bridge\u2019s safety, as well as council\u2019s focus on tackling the homeless crisis.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe ability to keep our city safe with the, you know, with some construction around the university bridge to prevent that type of encampment will be extremely important for people who are unhoused to prevent them from being in that location,\u201d Block said.<\/p>\n

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While the fence is a temporary solution to security concerns, Block wants to focus on providing homeless with transitional housing rather than continuously relying on shelters to provide needed services. Coun. Robert Pearce voiced his support for the notion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think shelters eventually need to need to translate into a one-to-three-night stay,\u201d Pearce said. \u201cAnd in that one to three days, those people are being placed in actual homes and places where they can get the support and the wraparound services that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

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