Released on October 31, 2013
As cold weather looms and highway construction grinds to a halt, frosty winters give highway bridge crews a solid leg up.
“Unlike road work, which becomes cost-prohibitive once the ground freezes up, bridge construction can continue year-round and in fact, some aspects of bridge construction are more cost-effective and efficient when carried out during the winter,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. “Motorists should look out for workers and equipment during the winter months and obey all signs when passing through work zones so this important work can be done safely.”
Bridge work gets a boost from frigid weather because temporary platforms can be easily built on the ice under the bridge. Frozen waterways also reduce environmental concerns because the work does not impact aquatic species and certain birds.
New construction underway in the province this week includes culvert installations on Highway 155 north of Green Lake and Highway 3 northwest of Kinistino.
This is the final weekly construction update for the 2013 season. Additional travel information about emergency road closures, the status of ferries and barges and other road activities is always available on the Highway Hotline at www.highways.gov.sk.ca/road-conditions. It's also available by calling 306-787-7623 in Regina, 306-933-8333 in Saskatoon, the SaskTel cellular network at *ROAD, toll-free across Canada at 1-888-335-7623 and via the Highway Hotline mobile website at http://hotline.gov.sk.ca/sk/map/mobile/.
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will also issue media advisories about highway activities impacting traffic, as required.
To view a gallery of photos from this year’s construction season, visit www.highways.gov.sk.ca//ConstructionGallery2013.
The government has invested a record $3.7 billion in transportation infrastructure since 2008.
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For more information, contact:
Joel Cherry
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4805