Released on February 28, 2011
The provincial government is providing $23.5 million to rural municipalities to improve and upgrade roads.
"Our government's record investments in transportation include not only the provincial highway system, but rural municipal roads as well," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "This funding will help ensure RM roads can support our growing economy and provide safe transportation for rural residents."
The funding is being provided through the Municipal Roads for the Economy Program (MREP). MREP provides cost-shared funding to RMs that are seeing increased traffic from economic growth. Funding is also targeted to developing primary weight truck haul routes that connect to the provincial highway system and repairing and replacing bridges and culverts.
MREP is overseen by a management board comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM). SARM also administers the program. Last year, grants were approved for more than 280 km of road projects across the province and nearly 70 bridge and culvert projects through MREP.
The $23.5 million in funding for the 2011 construction season is being provided immediately in the current fiscal year, ahead of the tabling of the provincial budget in March.
"We all know that construction season in Saskatchewan is relatively short," Reiter said. "Because of our strong economy and favourable financial situation, we can get this money flowing now so that RMs can get a head start on their planning and pre-construction work while the snow is on the ground, effectively lengthening the construction season."
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca