LARGE WINTER TENDER SCHEDULE FOR HIGHWAY WORK

Released on October 29, 2002

For the third straight year, a large Winter Tender Schedule for

Saskatchewan highway work will clear the way for major improvements to the

highway system.



The value of the tender schedule is $70.9 million and will provide

Saskatchewan road builders the opportunity to deliver 36 different highway

improvement projects and 12 gravel stockpiling contracts.



"Having another substantial winter tender schedule demonstrates the

priority we place on transportation in our province," Highways and

Transportation Minister Mark Wartman said. "Our budget of $293 million

this year shows the government is committed to building better highways.

This schedule of projects demonstrates our ongoing commitment to invest in

highway infrastructure improvements that support the provincial economy."



Releasing the Winter Tender Schedule at this time will:



minimize haul road damage as gravel is hauled in the winter when

the road beds are frozen;



generate seasonal employment for the road building industry and

ensure it has more time to prepare bids and determine workload,

staffing and equipment requirements for the upcoming construction

season; and



help ensure timely delivery of highway improvements next spring.



Additional projects may be added this winter as negotiations under federal

cost-share agreements are finalized and in the spring of 2003, a spring

tender schedule will be released to make up the remainder of the highway

improvements for 2003.



Highlights of the Winter Tender Schedule include:



292 km of pavement resurfacing on 15 highways (21 projects) valued

at $ 34.7 million;



157 km of improvements to ten key thin membrane surface (TMS)

corridors valued at $22.1 million;



25 km of northern grading on Highway 123 and Highway 969 valued at

$2.5 million;



17 km of widening and resurfacing in three projects valued at $3.4

million; and



$ 8.2 million in gravel stockpiling to ensure supplies for

patching, sealing and other maintenance work across the province.



A copy of the Winter Tender Schedule, detailing specific projects province-

wide, can be found at the Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation Website

at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca



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For more information, contact:



Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupré

Highways and Transportation

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4792