named after the French engineer. It was constructed in early 1900’s and most parts are original. Additions have been made throughout the last hundred years to create the bridge structure today. On the east side of the bridge is an archaeological site from Indigenous farming and fishing communities dating back to the 1400’s – M.D. Steele actually discovered artifacts from it during excavation, and is now working with the Manitoba Archaeological Branch, Indigenous partners, and the federal government to assist with spreading knowledge throughout the community. The main goal of the current project, however, was to widen the existing bridge deck while adding to its service life. To achieve that goal, it was necessary to remove the entire superstructure and many of the supporting steel members to accommodate the new width. For most of the bridge, the designers had to completely change the way weight would be transferred through the members. This posed many challenges when it came to the construction and the access to the work. According to Richard, the structure is a vital connector between two Manitoba communities, so “it was critical to maintain a single lane of traffic during construction.” To meet all the access and traffic requirements, M.D. Steele designed and constructed a set of gantry cranes that would run along rails which allowed for unimpeded access. The west and east approach spans are over land, so new cast-in-place concrete foundations were built to pick up the added load. According to Richard, M.D. Steele is particularly proud of MAY 2022
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