IMPROVING HIGHWAY 6 NORTH OF THE U.S BORDER

Released on June 22, 2004

Construction is now underway on 16.2 km of surfacing on Highway 6 north of the U.S. border.

The $2.6 million improvement project on Highway 6 is taking place from the U.S. border at the Port of Regway and continuing 16.2 km north. This section was graded last construction season in preparation for surfacing this year.

Carmacks Enterprises Ltd. is the contractor, and approximately 70 workers will be employed on this project. The public is advised that there will be an occasional disruption of traffic during the construction period. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in the construction Orange Zone, with a flagperson and/or pilot vehicle in attendance. Motorists should watch for trucks entering the highway and meeting trucks on the haul road. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of August.

"The improvement to Highway 6 at the U.S. border will help improve traffic flow through this Canada/U.S. port," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Highway 6 is very important to Saskatchewan – serving as a tourism link and major north-south trade corridor to the U.S."

Highway 6 in southern Saskatchewan has seen a significant amount of upgrading in recent years. With funding from the Centenary Fund, the province has invested over $9.5 million to upgrade this key trade corridor between Regina and the U.S. border. Work on this 16.2 km section at the border marks the completion of Highway 6 from a Thin Membrane Surface (TMS) highway to a paved standard.

Other work on Highway 6 this year includes 22.2 km of resurfacing south of Regina.

Over the past three years, the province has invested $900 million in Saskatchewan's transportation network, improving 1,000 km of paved highways, upgrading 750 km of rural highways, and twinning 172 km on Highways 1 and 16.

This year's budget provides an additional $294.8 million to improve another 740 km of major highways, improve 30 bridges, and twin 53 km on Highways 1 and 16 this construction season.

Remember to slow to 60 km/h when passing through the construction Orange Zone, and watch for construction workers, signs and heavy equipment. For more information about construction in your area, view the provincial project map at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306) 787-8484