The Government of Saskatchewan is releasing information on $300 million in new highways projects to boost the Saskatchewan economy while improving safety and capacity.
These projects are part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.5 billion two-year capital to stimulate Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.
The $300 million in highways stimulus funds will be invested over the next two years as to help quickly re-start the Saskatchewan economy, stated a news release issued Wednesday. These projects will include thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
Highlights include:
• Upgrades to 325 km of thin-membrane surface highways;
• 24 to 26 new sets of highway passing lanes;
• Rehabilitation of at least 100 RM roads when combined with our existing municipal roads program; and
• Improvements to community airports.
Details - $151M to upgrade 325 km thin-membrane surface highways. Projects include:
• Highway 24 near Leoville;
• Highway 26 through Goodsoil;
• Highway 43 from Gravelbourg to Highway 19;
• Highway 51 from Highway 317 to the Alberta border;
• Highway 56 south of junction with Highway 10;
• Highway 229 to Good Spirit Lake;
• Highway 312 east of Rosthern; and
• Highway 322 from Glen Harbour to Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park.
Details - $101.5M for 24-26 sets of new passing lanes. Projects include:
• Highway 2 - north of Prince Albert to Highway 263 (2 sets);
• Highway 3 - 10 km west of Prince Albert to Shellbrook (3 sets);
• Highway 12 - Martensville to Highway 312 (3 sets);
• Highway 14 - Saskatoon to Asquith (3 sets);
• Highway 16 - Clavet to Highway 6 (6 to 7 sets); and
• Highway 16 - Springside to Manitoba Border (7 to 8 sets).
*planning to begin this year, construction to begin next construction season.
Detail - $46M to upgrade municipal roads and airports.
• Rehabilitation of at least 100 RM roads when combined with our existing municipal roads program; and
• Improvements to at least 15 community airports.
“Provincial road builders generate more than $5 billion in provincial GDP out of an economy of $73 billion or roughly seven per cent of the total provincial economy,” Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association President Shantel Lipp said “We employ close to 30,000 workers, making our industry one of the largest employers in the province. We welcome any move toward maintaining and eventually growing these job numbers to get our economy on track.”
These stimulus investments are on top of $358 million in capital projects already committed in this year’s Estimates including:
• Nine sets of passing lanes and resurfacing and widening on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and the Canada-US Border;
• Four sets of passing lanes and resurfacing on Highway 7 between Delisle and Kindersley, plus planning for three additional sets of passing lanes between Kindersley and the Saskatchewan-Alberta border;
• Two sets of passing lanes, resurfacing, and widening of Highway 5 plus planning for a short section of twinning between Saskatoon and the junction of Highway 2;
• Three sets of passing lanes on Highway 10 between Melville and Yorkton; and
• Three sets of passing lanes on Highway 9 between Yorkton and Canora.
This year’s fiscal plan also includes improvements to more than 1,000 km of provincial highways this year, which is the first year of the 10-year Growth Plan to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9.8 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 15,500 km of Saskatchewan highways.
“Infrastructure investments are important for growth, quality of life, and safe transportation,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “This stimulus package will provide an economic boost creating jobs and building priority infrastructure projects which will serve the citizens of the province for decades to come.”
