Released on November 21, 2001
A newly twinned 16.2 km section of Highway 16 was officially opened today.The project took place primarily on the new eastbound lanes of Highway 16
from west of Maidstone to east of Lashburn, with 2.5 km of surfacing
occurring on the westbound lanes near Lashburn.
This section is opened and safe for travel. A final layer of paving will
be applied to the newly twinned section in the 2002 construction season.
The Highway 16 twinning improves safety on a stretch of highway with
limited passing opportunities and increasing truck traffic.
Highways and Transportation Minister Mark Wartman led a ribbon-cutting
celebration today to officially open the new twinned lanes.
"We're on schedule to finish twinning on Highway 16 by 2010," Wartman
said. "Twinning will increase driver comfort and safety for travellers.
It has been a large part of our government's focus for highway improvements
this year along with rebuilding rural roads and repaving provincial
highways."
The total construction cost for the new 16 km of highway is $10.3 million,
with surfacing costs of $6.3 million and grading costs of $4 million.
Last August, a 10.7 km section of new twinning was opened from just east of
Marshall to 1 km west of Lashburn. During the 2002 construction season,
grading and paving work will take place through the Town of Lashburn.
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's budget this year is $311.7
million, which is the highest transportation budget in Saskatchewan's
history. This year, more than 70 km of four lane highways were opened on
Highways 1 and 16. On Highway 1 west, a 21 km section was opened to
traffic in October. On Highway 1 east, a 33 km section was also opened to
traffic last month.
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For more information, contact:
Ray Connoly
Highways and Transportation
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 933-6117
Cell: (306) 230-5272