Released on June 13, 2013
Motorists in the Prince Albert area will encounter a multitude of work zones this construction season, as contractors are currently doing $43.4 million of work to transform area highways into safe, smooth surfaces.
“We’re asking Prince Albert and area motorists to please follow the signs in the many work zones they will be driving through over the next few months,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. “The black and white speed signs tell motorists exactly when they must slow to 60 km/hr and when they can speed back up again.”
“The improvements planned for the Prince Albert area are going to make highways safer for everyone,” Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson said. “The improvements will also increase efficiency for shippers and provide better access to tourist destinations.”
Work taking place in the Prince Albert area includes:
Highway 11 twinning south of Macdowall – 13 km of new northbound lanes will be paved starting 2.5 km south of Macdowall and continuing north of Macdowall. This work will be underway in July and should be finished by fall 2013. This project is valued at $10.1 million.
Highway 11 near Prince Albert – About 1.6 km of newly-twinned northbound lanes are being built west of the junction of Highways 11 and 2 (grading and paving). This work includes an intersection re-alignment. Construction began the week of May 20 and should be complete this summer. The project is valued at an estimated $4.9 million.
Highway 2 south and north of Prince Albert – Repaving will be taking place on three sections of Highway 2, including north of the Junction of Highway 2 and 11, as well as north of Prince Albert to north of its junction with Highway 355, and from south of its junction with Highway 263 to 4.7 km north. This work is scheduled for the 2013 construction season.
Highways 2 and 25 near St. Louis - Grading is taking place now on Highways 2 and 25 south and east of their junction, on the new access road to St. Louis, as well as work on Highway 2 south of the abutment to the new St. Louis Bridge and north of Highway 25. Work commenced on June 12 and should be complete this fall. The project is valued at an estimated $4.4 million.
Highway 2 near Hoey – Grading is expected to start in early July on about 8.6 km of Highway 2 from about 10 km south of its junction with Highway 25 to the north, as well as grading of about 1.1 km of a new access road to Hoey (work will take place along 1 km of the existing Highway 2 with the remainder of the work taking place along existing municipal roads). Work should be complete this fall. The project is valued at an estimated $7.6 million.
Wakaw Lake Access Road near Highway 2 - About 10 km of grading and paving is underway on the Wakaw Lake Access road from Highway 2 to the Wakaw Lake Regional Park. This work began the week of May 20 and should be complete this summer. The project is valued at an estimated $3.4 million.
Highway 3 near Shellbrook – New turning lanes are being constructed on Highway 3 at its junction with Fifth Street in Shellbrook. The work began the week of May 27 and should be complete in late June 2013. This project is valued at an estimated $303,000.
Highway 40 near Shellbrook – About 14 km of repaving is taking place from the junction of Highway 40 and Highway 3 west of Shellbrook to the southwest, as well as the construction of an acceleration lane for eastbound traffic entering Highway 3 from Highway 40. Work got underway the week of May 6 and should be complete this summer. This project is valued at an estimated $6.7 million.
Emma Lake Access Road and Murray Point Campground Access Road - About 6.3 km of grading is underway on the Emma Lake Access Road from its junction with Highway 263 to 6.3 km northwest, as well as 700 metres of work on the Murray Point Campground Access Road from its junction with the Emma Lake Access Road to the north. Work began the week of June 3 and should be complete this summer, while paving will take place in 2014. This project is valued at an estimated $6 million.
Highway 302 – Grading and paving will be taking place on about 2.6 km of the Weldon Ferry access road northwest from the Weldon Ferry. This work is scheduled for the 2013 construction season but has not yet been tendered.
All motorists are reminded they must slow to 60 km/hr in highway work zones. New simplified signage will direct drivers exactly when to slow to 60 km/hr. Drivers now face three times the normal fines for speeding and heavier enforcement in work zones. For your safety and the safety of workers, slow to 60 km/hr.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested a record $3.7 billion in transportation infrastructure since 2008.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kirsten Leatherdale
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: kirsten.leatherdale@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-9692