Premier Brad Wall reopens talk of new, 2nd bridge for P.A.

The Saskatchewan government is reconsidering construction of a second bridge in the city of Prince Albert — with a caveat.

Premier Brad Wall says in a letter to Mayor Greg Dionne that the province will commit funding if the project is approved through a public-private partnership with the federal government.

Wall notes that Saskatoon went through a similar process for a bridge, and says he's confident the Prince Albert application would get serious consideration.

There has been talk of building a second bridge in Prince Albert for several years, but a government report released in January 2013 said the existing Diefenbaker Bridge probably wouldn't reach capacity for up to 30 years.

One major concern Dionne has is the amount of hazardous materials being transported across the Diefenbaker Bridge and through the heart of Prince Albert.

The Diefenbaker Bridge is currently the only one crossing the North Saskatchewan River for more than 120 kilometres in either direction.