MORE RESURFACING SET FOR HIGHWAY 31

Released on December 4, 2000

A tender has been awarded for more improvements to Highway 31 northwest of

Kerrobert. A 10.9 km section will be resurfaced to improve the drive for

travellers.



ASL Paving Ltd. of Saskatoon was awarded this project as the lowest of five

bidders.



"Work will begin on this $1.5 million resurfacing project in July and should be

completed in mid-August," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag

said. "Gravel will be crushed and hauled during January to save wear and tear

on local roads.



"Completion of this job will require an estimated 20 full-time workers."



During the month of January, travellers in the Kerrobert area should be

watching for large trucks hauling gravel on Highways 21, 31, 317 and 374.



This project extends the resurfacing project completed on Highway 31 northwest

of Kerrobert this past summer. Improvements on Highway 31 will begin six

kilometres northwest of its junction with Highways 21 and 51 and continue to

the northwest.



This 10.9 km resurfacing project was identified in the 2000/2001 Winter Tender

Schedule for Saskatchewan highway work, worth an estimated $90 million.



Tendering next year's projects now allows for crushed gravel and sand to be

hauled during the winter when roads are frozen, avoiding damage that would be

caused if the material was hauled in the spring or summer. It also allows

highway work to begin earlier in the spring.



Highlights of the Winter Tender Schedule include work to provide for 121 km of

surfacing work on 11 key thin membrane surface (TMS) corridors valued at $21

million; and 266 km of pavement resurfacing on 18 main highways (23 projects)

valued at $34 million. As well, the Winter Tender Schedule will also provide

for 70 km of twinning on sections of Highway 1 East and West, and Highway 16

valued at $18 million; and $9 million in gravel stockpiling to ensure supplies

for patching, sealing and other maintenance work across the province.



"Road damage on Highway 31 is caused by an increase in truck traffic as a

result of increased oil activity in this area," Sonntag said. "Motorists in

this area will be noticing an improvement in our highway network."



-30-



For more information, contact:



Ray Connoly, Director

Engineering Projects

Saskatoon

Phone: (306) 933-6117

(cell) (306) 230-5272