Released on November 27, 1998
Highways and Transportation Minister Judy Bradley announced a$44.7 million 1998/99 Winter Tender Schedule last night at the
Saskatchewan Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association Annual
Convention in Saskatoon.
"The tendering of the $44.7 million of projects will mean the creation
of about 1,100 seasonal construction jobs with approximately 200 of
those jobs to be used this winter and the balance in the 1999/2000
construction season," Bradley said.
Highlights of the Winter Tender Schedule include:
150 km of resurfacing across Saskatchewan in 14 separate projects
on 11 different highways;
Two paving projects on Highway No. 1 West near Gull Lake to
complete 27 km twinning;
Paving of 13 km on the north/south corridor Highway No. 6 from
Minton to south of Ceylon;
A 10 km grading project on Highway No. 16 West near Marshall;
Upgrading of 16 km on Highway No. 31 from Denzil to Macklin;
Upgrading 13 km on Highway No. 15 between Raymore and Semans;
Two Northern Saskatchewan projects including 13 km of grading of
Highway No. 965 west of Junction No. 155 and 16 km grading on
Highway No. 903 from Broad Creek to north of Junction No. 904;
23 km of spot improvements of four different Saskatchewan
highways.
The Winter Tender Schedule represents about 43 per cent of next
year's planned capital and preservation contract expenditures at
the 1998/99 budget level. The remainder of highway work to be
tendered will follow in spring after the provincial budget is
announced. By releasing a Winter Tender Schedule, timely,
efficient delivery of highway improvements is ensured for the
motoring public. If the projects were not tendered until spring,
many projects could not be completed as planned.
"By tendering and awarding this work early we are giving
contractors the opportunity to better plan their personnel and
equipment requirements," Bradley said. "Contractors can move
their equipment to their projects before the spring road bans
take effect in March. By hauling aggregate for paving projects
during the winter we are able to prevent serious damage to the
roads.
"The addition of over $60 million to our department budget in the
last two years helped make 1998 a memorable year for road
building. Twenty-seven kilometres of grading were completed on
Highway No. 1 at Gull Lake and 21 km of grading for new twinning
lanes commenced on Highway No. 1 East at Indian Head. We opened
an $11 million bridge at Outlook and we enjoyed a very active
construction season. With the announcement of this Winter Tender
Schedule, we can anticipate that 1999 will prove to be an even
more productive year."
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For more information, contact:
Barry Martin
Acting Deputy Minister
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation
Cell Phone: 537-1246