Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk announced the damaged bridge on Provincial Road 311 won't be fixed until 2025.

"This bridge sees over 3,000 vehicles per day and is an important route in the Blumenort area," says Piwniuk. "We are working to have the bridge reconstructed and re-opened in the quickest timeline possible to minimize traffic impacts in the area."

The 42-year-old bridge saw its demise in May when some crop residue burned on some fields in that area and the fire spread to the hydro poles and shed. 

To ensure the public's safety, the bridge was fully dismantled and a detour route was established.

The Manitoba government is reviewing various options for reconstructing the bridge that considers the traffic needs in the area, with a priority placed on re-opening traffic as soon as possible.

The bridge renewal plans include a more robust design to withstand overloaded vehicles and it is expected to be open to traffic in 2025.

For more information on Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s projects, visit the department’s interactive map at https://gov.mb.ca/mit/mipmap/map.html.