IMPROVING HIGHWAY 23 NORTH OF BJORKDALE

Released on January 11, 2002

A tender has been awarded for surfacing 10.9 km of Highway 23 north of

Bjorkdale this construction season.



"Roadwork on this $1.4 million surfacing project is anticipated to begin in

early May 2002, and should be completed by late June," Highways and

Transportation Minister Mark Wartman said. "Completion of this job will

require an estimated 40 full-time workers."



The improvement project on Highway 23 will begin at the Bjorkdale access

and will continue north for 10.9 km. Work is already underway for gravel

crushing and haul in preparation for roadwork.



Warner Construction Ltd. of Regina was awarded this surfacing project.



This project was identified in the 2001/2002 Winter Tender Schedule for

Saskatchewan highway work, worth an estimated $86.8 million. The Winter

Tender Schedule ensures timely and efficient delivery of highway

improvements this spring.



"Highway 23 has seen an increase in truck traffic, leading to deterioration

on this highway," Wartman said. "We are surfacing a section of this

highway as it has become rough over the past number of years. Saskatchewan

Highways and Transportation is working hard to fix roads across the

province to improve driver safety."



The department's budget this year is a record $311.7 million, which will

help to improve the major highway system that carries 65 per cent of

provincial traffic.



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For more information, contact:



Rock Gorlick

Highways and Transportation

Saskatoon

Phone: (306) 933-5225

Cell: (306) 227-8013