City celebrates 30 years of Charleswood Bridge — One of Canada’s first public-private partnerships

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Innovations in infrastructure planning and successful partnerships were celebrated Friday as prominent Winnipeggers gathered on the Charleswood Bridge. The event marked 30 years since construction began on the structure, which opened in Fall 1995.

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The $45.8-million bridge was built via a public-private partnership with DBF Ltd. / Ernst Hansch Construction and the City of Winnipeg.

“As one of Canada’s first public-private partnerships, the Charleswood Bridge showed what’s possible when we get creative with infrastructure,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham in a press release. “Finished a full year ahead of schedule, this project not only connected neighbourhoods but also set the stage for future partnerships in Winnipeg and beyond. With the upcoming handover to the City, we’re proud to carry its legacy forward as a model of smart infrastructure that benefits our community.”

The City made its final payment on the project during the 2024 Fiscal Year, marking the near-end of the first true build-own-operate-transfer infrastructure project in Canada.

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Ownership of the bridge will be formally transferred to the City in 2025.

“In 1992 when I became mayor, and with huge work by then Councillor’s Bill Clement, Jae Eadie and George Fraser, we had to get this bridge built,” said former Mayor Susan Thomspon. “The only way was through innovation, which was the private/public partnership. It was like climbing several Mount Everests, but we got it done, and I do hope this bridge serves one and all very well. It was a significant exercise in perseverance, and we got the job done.”

As part of the final maintenance agreement, DBF crews recently finished rehabilitating the roadway surface, stairs, and barriers. “As we complete the final stages of rehab, the project looks like new after 30 years,” said Norbert Hansch, of the DBF Group. “The hard work put into this project by all involved both then and now, is a testament to what is possible when the public and private sectors come together to deliver critical infrastructure for the benefit of our communities. We are proud to share in this historic event with the City of Winnipeg.”

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“The building of the Charleswood Bridge had been debated for half a decade,” said Councillor Evan Duncan. “It was through the leadership of Mayor Susan Thompson and key local councillors that one of Canada’s first and largest private public partnership was formed.”

“Councillor Clement’s vision of building this bridge connected Charleswood and St James,” Duncan continued. “The subsequent creation of the William Clement Parkway, and its future extension, will fittingly connect future communities in Winnipeg which may require that same innovative approach.”

Minor work remains on walkways and sidewalks. This will be completed within the next eight months, at which point all interpretive signage and decorations will be returned to the bridge.

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