Released on March 24, 2009
Saskatchewan is set to have its busiest construction season on record with 1,580 km of highway rehabilitation and maintenance projects, and the start of several multi-year projects aimed at supporting economic growth.
The province's historic $630 million budget for Highways and Infrastructure is 19 per cent higher than last year and includes the largest amount ever for capital construction - $358 million.
"We've got a massive construction schedule this season, and in order to get the work done, we need more resources than ever before," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard said. "Saskatchewan's road builders are gearing up to meet the capacity needed to improve the province's transportation system."
"Our members are telling us that they are ready to meet the challenge," Saskatchewan Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association president Shantel Lipp said. "We are receiving significant interest from individuals across the country wanting to be employed by our members. We are optimistic that with good planning and ongoing consultation with the province, we can deliver."
This year's record budget will target $100 million for the Rural Highway Strategy (RHS) to continue and commence 250 km of rural highway upgrades. Under the RHS, the province's primary weight highway network will be expanded by 5,000 km, allowing shippers to increase the amount of weight they can haul on those highways.
To address the backlog of municipal road and bridge projects, $40 million will be provided to rural municipalities to make upgrades under a new streamlined set of programs aimed at the seamless integration of both the municipal and provincial networks.
The provincial and federal governments will jointly fund twinning construction on Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, with $23 million provided this year to complete building the roadbed for new lanes north of Hague to south of Rosthern and commence construction on the new twinned lanes at Hague and Rosthern.
Investments to support new and emerging growth in the province include $19.7 million for the first stage of construction to support the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) west of Regina. A new Highway 1 and Lewvan Drive interchange will also support traffic flow to and from the GTH, as well as improve safety for motorists accessing a new commercial and housing development and for highway traffic entering and exiting Regina. An additional $9.3 million will be invested in supporting infrastructure for the development of a new industrial area at Yorkton including two canola crushing plants. This will include the realignment of Highway 16 and construction of a west truck route between Highway 52 and Highway 16.
This year's budget invests $224 million for the maintenance, repair and repaving of 300 km of highways, and $45 million in the rehabilitation and replacement of aging bridges and culverts on the provincial highway network. A new bridge on Highway 2 at St. Louis will be built 1.6 km east of the existing 96-year-old structure; $10 million will be provided this year for detailed design, survey and land acquisition to commence immediately, with construction commencing in the winter of 2009-10.
For more information on the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure's 2009-10 budget and projects go to www.highways.gov.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Cell: 306-536-0049