Released on September 15, 2011
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter and Enterprise Minister and Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison were on site at a major construction upgrade to Highway 4 north of Glaslyn today, one of $32 million worth of highway upgrades currently underway in the Meadow Lake area.
"This is the final piece to complete the primary weight link on Highway 4 between Meadow Lake and North Battleford," Reiter said. "Primary weight provides a major cost-saving and efficiency for shippers, as well as a competitive edge for the region to attract new economic development."
"The widening and paving currently underway on Highway 4, as well as the major upgrades taking place on Highway 55, will have safety and efficiency benefits for local motorists, tourists and shippers alike," Harrison said. "It's a huge transportation improvement for this region."
A total of 24 km of Highway 4 is being upgraded from 20 km north of its north junction with Highway 43 at Glaslyn, which includes widening of the shoulders on 18 km and paving on the entire 24 km. Grading, or rebuilding the roadbed, has been completed with some clean up work remaining. About 7 km of the paving work is complete with 17 km remaining. Construction should be complete in late fall 2011 pending favourable weather and contractor progress. This work is valued at $13.2 million.
The current upgrade to Highway 4 builds on work that was completed in 2010, including resurfacing from 44 km north of its north Junction with Highway 43, continuing north for a distance of 29.5 km. This work was valued at $9.8 million.
On Highway 55, 26 km of improvements are currently underway from the Alberta-Saskatchewan border to 10 km east of Pierceland. This work is a complete rebuild of the highway from roadbed to surface. Construction will continue until winter freeze-up, and will resume in the 2012 construction season. This work is valued at $18.2 million.
Additional upcoming work on Highway 55 includes 26 km of grading and paving from Peerless west. Ministry officials are currently in negotiations to buy land for this project, needed to accommodate the upgrade to a paved highway. Once negotiations are complete this project will be tendered.
Lastly, a culvert replacement is currently underway on Highway 55, 11 km west of Meadow Lake. Contractor Minty's Moving Ltd. moved on site Sept. 7 to begin preparation for the installation of a 3.3 m new pipe through the existing culvert. This project is valued at $713,000.
Motorists are reminded to slow to 60 km/h in the construction Orange Zone when passing highway workers and equipment.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Cell: 306-536-0049