Released on November 7, 2012
For the second winter season in a row, Saskatchewan's road condition information service will be enhanced with the help of commercial truckers who drive our province's highways 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Saskatchewan's Highway Hotline will report new and up-to-date road conditions in the Trucker's Report, a special green text report that can be accessed from the Highway Hotline web page at http://hotline.gov.sk.ca/textreport.html.
"Last year the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure teamed up with Ridsdale Transport to provide enhanced reporting on road conditions and the partnership has paid off very well," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. "Saskatchewan citizens have benefitted from overnight information provided by truckers on certain routes."
Saskatoon-based Ridsdale Transport Ltd. drivers are providing road condition information on 12 of their Saskatchewan routes, between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. These routes include Highway 1 between Swift Current and the Manitoba border, Highway 6 between Regina and Melfort, Highway 10 between Regina and Yorkton, Highway 11 between Regina and Saskatoon, Highway 16 between Saskatoon and Lloydminster, and Highway 41 between Saskatoon and Melfort.
"The participation of Ridsdale Transport reporting to the Highway Hotline last winter was a project that we renewed without hesitation," Ridsdale Transport Ltd. Director of Operations Wayne Kowalyshyn said. "I look forward to our drivers and line haul dispatch assisting our fellow motorists again this year."
"The Saskatchewan Trucking Association applauds the efforts of Ridsdale Transport and the partnership with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to make our highways safer for all motorists," Saskatchewan Trucking Association Executive Director Al Rosseker said.
Road conditions are called in by the drivers at terminals, switch points, or other stops, as well as in extreme weather conditions. Calls are made to the dispatcher who then sends a report to the Highway Hotline office, which is manned 24-hours a day, seven days a week during the winter months.
For the Highway Hotline's latest available Saskatchewan road conditions, visit http://hotline.gov.sk.ca to check map and text reports and access a mobile website with similar features or dial the following for recorded reports: 306-787-7623 in the Regina area, 306-933-8333 in the Saskatoon area or 1-888-335-7623 toll-free across Canada. For road closures and travel not recommended alerts on Twitter, check out the Highway Hotline account @SKGovHwyHotline. For general tips, visit the Highway Hotline on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SaskatchewanHighwayHotline.
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For more information, contact:
Kirsten Leatherdale
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: kirsten.leatherdale@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-9692
Wayne Kowalyshyn
Ridsdale Transport Ltd.
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-668-9211
Al Rosseker
Saskatchewan Trucking Association
Regina
Phone: 306-569-9696