Released on November 12, 2014
A series of improvements are being made to Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline including a new travel planning route locator for frequently travelled highways, as well as an updated version of the mobile website.“We want to make sure motorists get the information they need as easily and conveniently as possible when making their travel plans,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said. “More and more people are using handheld devices to access road information.”
A travel planning locator tool has been added making travel planning easier and more efficient. Motorists will now be able to view live snapshots of the road conditions along the top 16 frequently travelled highways.
The new version of the mobile website will offer motorists a more convenient way to check highway conditions. When you go to www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline, the site recognizes you are on a smart phone or tablet and will automatically take you to the mobile version. It allows motorists to select interactive maps of Saskatchewan areas and click on specific highway segments for conditions.
A bulletin ribbon for notifications such as amber alerts has also been added and will appear during emergency situations.
More enhancements are on the way including an alert icon for events such as floods and a new tool for shippers which indicates emergency vehicle weight, width and other restrictions at specific locations.
The latest road condition updates are available on the Highway Hotline at www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline. Recorded reports are also available by calling 306-787-7623 in Regina, 306-933-8333 in Saskatoon, the SaskTel cellular network at *ROAD, and toll-free across Canada at 1-888-335-7623.
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.
The information for the Highway Hotline is compiled from observations made by ministry staff. Information is provided 24 hours a day. Service may be subject to rapidly changing weather, flooding, forest fires or other events. Motorists need to be alert to these possible changes and operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner based on the road conditions before them.
The Highway Hotline receives about 4.0 million inquiries per year.
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For more information, contact:
Steve Shaheen
Highways and Infrastructure
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-5641
Email: steve.shaheen@gov.sk.ca