Released on September 20, 2012
Recent Upgrade Helps Farmers Move Grain Faster to Rail Car Loading Facility
An estimated $1.9 million upgrade to a portion of Highway 42 near Dinsmore in central Saskatchewan will allow farmers to move grain quicker to a nearby rail car loading facility.
"This improved highway makes shipping more efficient in the area and supports the province's export-based economy, which helps build the Saskatchewan Advantage," Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter said on behalf of Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris. "Area farmers can also be more competitive when moving their products to market by having better access to the provincial primary weight highway network, which allows them to haul more grain in a single trip."
The two kilometre upgrade project stretching from near Dinsmore heading west began in late May and included grading followed by paving. It was completed in September.
The finished work allows primary weight trucks to travel south from Highway 15 to Dinsmore using a Municipal Grid Road (1 mile west of the Bounty Access off Highway 15), then west on a small portion of Highway 44, followed by continuing west on the now upgraded portion of Highway 42 to reach West Central Road & Rail's (WCRR) grain car loading facility.
"WCRR views the upgrade to Highway 42 as extremely beneficial, as it provides a primary weight link into our grain facility," West Central Road & Rail President and CEO Rob Lobdell said. "This is good news for our farmer customers in the region."
Primary weight is the highest legal weight shippers can haul. If a truck can haul a larger payload, it means fewer trips are needed, which contributes to greater transportation efficiency.
Motorists are reminded they must slow to 60 km/hr when passing workers and equipment in the Orange Zone. For more information about construction zones, visit http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/orangezone/.
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For more information, contact:
Dan Palmer
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4805