Released on July 7, 2000
New signage on Highway 39 near Weyburn is inviting tourists to stop and restawhile.
The City of Weyburn, in partnership with Saskatchewan Highways and
Transportation, undertook the pilot project with the assistance of the
Saskatchewan South East Tourism Association.
The signs promote the Weyburn campground as a rest area. The Weyburn
campground is ideally situated adjacent to Highway 39 and includes numerous
amenities such as washrooms, picnic tables and hiking trails making it an ideal
place to stop.
"Many of the tourists who pass through Weyburn are from the United States and
are accustomed to rest areas – a place to get out and stretch, use the
facilities and let the kids let off steam," Highways and Transportation
Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Saskatchewan doesn't have formally established
rest areas like the U.S., but our new signs are letting travellers know that
those types of services are available in and around our communities."
Highway 39 is a main north-south travel corridor. The North Portal border
crossing on Highway 39 southeast of Estevan is not only the busiest border
crossing in Saskatchewan, but also one of the busiest in Canada. Tourism
contributes an estimated $1 billion annually to the provincial economy.
"Already we're noticing an increase in tourists at the Weyburn rest area since
the signs went up," Don Strelieff, administrator of the Saskatchewan South East
Tourism Association said. "The community also benefits when travellers turn in
and do some shopping, stop for gas or have a meal."
The project will be assessed at the end of the summer to determine if similar
signage could benefit other Saskatchewan communities.
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For more information, contact:
Mike Woods
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4804