WINNIPEG, Man. — City officials are warning drivers the Provencher Bridge in Winnipeg will be reduced to one lane in each direction for nearly a year, beginning this fall.

The city is hoping to complete work on the well-travelled bridge by October, 2003. But that means there will be plenty of traffic headaches in the meantime.

“We’ve done some work with signals and are trying to make things flow as well as we possibly can,” says civic public works director, Jim Thomson to local media. “People are being very understanding.”

The worst is yet to come, however, when the traffic is reduced in both directions this fall.

“It will be one lane in each direction from September or October until well into 2003,” says Thomson.

The Provencher Bridge isn’t the only Winnipeg-area bridge receiving attention. The Redwood Bridge will receive $500,000 in preparations for heavy-duty reinforcements in coming years. Disraeli Freeway’s overpass is also slated to be improved while Bishop Grandin Blvd. will receive new concrete and asphalt.