Released on June 30, 2009
Construction Continues To Improve Transportation System
The length of Saskatchewan's primary weight highway system increases by more than 50 per cent on July 1, as work continues this summer to improve the province's transportation system.
Depending on a truck's configuration, primary weights can increase its payload capacity from 15 to 50 per cent.
"In our growing economy, most of our key industries rely on truck haul," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "This expansion of the primary weight system generates some $30 million in cost savings for industry, makes Saskatchewan businesses more competitive, improves the investment climate in our rural communities and has a positive impact on carbon emissions."
The primary weight expansion is an initiative of the ministry's Rural Highway Strategy. The corridors added to the primary system were identified through an extensive analysis of the secondary weight highway system. Primary weights will be available on the new corridors on a nine-month basis annually (July-March).
The expansion brings Saskatchewan's primary weight system to a total length of 14,400 kilometres (km). This includes 8,250 km of 12-month primary weight highways and 1,200 km of existing nine-month primary weight highways.
Meanwhile, construction is continuing this summer to improve Saskatchewan's transportation system with highway work recently starting on Highway 21 near Glidden, Highway 23 near Bjorkdale and Highway 40 near Hafford. For a list of ongoing projects, please see the attached Weekly Provincial Construction Update.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804