Released on May 27, 2013
Work is underway on a major project that will improve safety and traffic flow on Highway 10.
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure is investing $16.9 million in a pilot project to build passing lanes between Balgonie and Fort Qu’Appelle this summer.
“Passing lanes can provide a significant improvement to traffic safety at a fraction of the cost of full twinning,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. “In time, and given the results of the pilot project, we'll assess the possibility of using passing lanes in other high-traffic areas.”
The work includes the construction of four sets of passing lanes (each set includes one passing lane in each direction), covering about 16 km. Passing lanes provide more opportunities to overtake slower traffic safely, especially on highways where curves and hilly terrain limit sight lines.
One set of passing lanes will be built between six and 16 km southwest of Fort Qu’Appelle. The remaining sets will be built between 17 and 46 km from Fort Qu’Appelle. About 29 km of the existing lanes on Highway 10 will also be repaved at the same time. Work is expected to be complete this fall, subject to weather and contractor progress.
Construction of the passing lane will require traffic to be reduced to one lane. Motorists should expect delays and watch for flag persons, workers and equipment.
“Our government is committed to providing the infrastructure that responds to the tremendous growth our province is seeing and to stimulate further growth in the future,” McMorris said. “That’s why we’ve invested $3.7 billion into the transportation system since 2008.”
Including the Highway 10 project, this year’s $576 million Highways budget will see more than 350 km of major projects across the province.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca