Drivers in the Municipal District of Bonnyville should plan for short waits starting Thursday, June 18, 2026, as the Province carries out bridge inspections on two rural crossings. The Lessard Bridge, found north of Township Road 624, and the Tillers Bridge, east of Range Road 485, will see inspection crews on site, leading to traffic delays of 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
The MD of Bonnyville shared that the inspections are being handled by the Province. While no detours are needed, anyone travelling those routes is asked to leave a few extra minutes for the trip.
These routine checks are part of Alberta’s bridge inspection system, which requires trained and certified inspectors to visually examine bridge structures on a regular basis. The goal is to catch any wear or safety concerns before they become bigger issues.
The Lessard Bridge in particular has a history of trouble during high water and ice breakup. In 2018, ice on the Beaver River took out the bridge’s middle support pillar, shutting it down for nearly a year. It was closed again in 2020 when water levels rose about 2.5 metres above normal. The MD has since kept a close eye on the structure, with General Manager of Infrastructure Services Abid Malik noting in past years that bridge consultants monitor water levels to decide when inspections and repairs can happen safely.
The 2026 inspections come as the MD moves ahead with a $4.5 million capital bridge works program. Earlier this year, council approved funding for three bridge replacement construction projects, engineering work for three more future replacements, and one bridge rehabilitation project. The municipality looks after roughly 56 bridges that are flagged for replacement within a decade, making ongoing inspections a key part of keeping rural roads open and safe.
Drivers are reminded to slow down and watch for crews near the Lessard and Tillers bridges starting Thursday. No full closures are expected, just the short, intermittent delays while the inspections take place.
