Dixon Bridge Replacement – Public comments invited from February 2 to March 4, 2023

February 2, 2023 – Parks Canada and Transport Canada must decide whether the proposed project Dixon Bridge Replacement, located in Grasslands National Park is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada and Transport Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada and Transport Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public on the project's potential effects on the environment as the public consultation for this proposal. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

In order to submit comments or request a copy of the draft Detailed Impact Assessment report, contact:

Grasslands National Park
P.O. Box 150
Val Marie, Saskatchewan S0N 2T0
Telephone: 306-298-2257 or 1-888-773-8888
Email: infopnprairies-grasslandsnpinfo@pc.gc.ca

Comments must be submitted by March 4, 2023.

Project Summary: The Dixon Bridge is a two 6.1 m span timber bridge across the Frenchmen River in southwest Saskatchewan, built in 1965. It is at the end of its service life and requires replacement. The bridge provides critical access through the park. Proposed work is to deconstruct the existing bridge and construct a new three-span 6 m -18 m - 6 m that will reduce issues of flooding and bridge damage from ice flows. A temporary bridge will be constructed prior to decommissioning the old bridge to maintain access during work. Work will be required below the high-water mark, and work will occur in or near critical habitat for species at risk as well as on lands protected under the Emergency Order for the Protection of the Greater Sage-Grouse. This work will be assessed using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

Scope of Assessment: The detailed impact assessment will assess the impacts of the proposed project on fish-bearing waterways crossed by the bridge, on critical habitat of species at risk occurring in or near the project area, including the last remaining active sage-grouse lek in the West Block of the park, and on unknown archeological resources which might occur throughout the park.