Released on May 30, 2002
Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Wascana MP RalphGoodale, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with
Saskatchewan Minister of Highways and Transportation Mark Wartman, today
announced the twinning of Highway 16 through Lashburn has begun.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan will contribute
joint funding of $5.5 million for this project, which falls under the
Canada/Saskatchewan Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP).
Construction began May 29th and is expected to be completed by September
28th.
Under the SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of
Saskatchewan will provide joint funding of $37 million over the next four
years for highway improvement projects in the province. The Saskatchewan
SHIP agreement, signed January 24, 2002, is part of the national $600
million SHIP program announced by David Collenette in April, 2001.
"This funding will play an important role in helping to improve
Saskatchewan's roads and highways," Goodale said. "This kind of support is
crucial to economic development and public safety."
"I am pleased to announce $2.75 million of federal funds from the Strategic
Highway Infrastructure Program is being used for this highway construction
project," Collenette said. "This project, which will enhance safety and
improve the flow of traffic, is a fine example of co-operation between the
Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan."
Highway 16, also known as the Yellowhead Highway, is the northern East-West
transportation corridor across Western Canada. Approximately 3,000
vehicles a day use the western section of Highway 16 in Saskatchewan.
"One of Saskatchewan's top highway capital construction objectives is to
twin Highway 16 from Saskatoon to the Alberta border by 2010," Wartman
said. "This highway construction project goes a long way in contributing
to this goal."
The project involves twinning approximately 3 kilometres of limited access
highway through Lashburn, as well as construction on 1.6 kilometres for a
south service road, 3 kilometres for a north service road, 0.7 kilometres
to connect a local road into the west intersection and constructing new
intersections.
Funding for this project was provided for in the December, 2001 federal
budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
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For more information, contact:
Anthony Polci Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre
Office of the Transport Minister Highways and Transportation
Ottawa Regina
Phone: (613) 991-0700 Phone: (306) 787-4792