IMPROVING HIGHWAYS IN THE NORTH BATTLEFORD/LLOYDMINSTER AREA

Released on March 3, 2004

Tenders have been awarded and gravel stockpiling has begun on highway improvement projects listed on the Winter Tender Schedule for the North Battleford/Lloydminster area.

"The highways designated for improvements in the North Battleford and Lloydminster areas are subject to heavy truck traffic, which leads to rutting and rough sections." Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "These highway improvements will continue the province's plan of enhancing key transportation corridors in northwest Saskatchewan to support regional economic and social development."

· On Highway 16, 13.6 km of new westbound lanes will be surfaced, beginning 10.8 km northwest of Battleford and continuing northwest. Warner Construction Co. Ltd. is the contractor. Gravel crushing in preparation for construction began February 12th and on-road construction is expected June 5th. This twinning project is valued at $4.5 million and is being cost-shared with the federal government through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). It will employ 90 full-time workers.

· On highway 16, gravel is being stockpiled to surface 10.94 km of new east and westbound lanes for the new alignment of Highway 16 around the north side of Maidstone. Clayton Construction Co. Ltd. of Yorkton is the contractor. Grading from 7.1 km east of Maidstone to 3.8 km west of Maidstone started last fall and will be completed during the 2004 summer construction season. The grading and aggregate stockpiling projects are valued at $4.85 million and are being cost-shared with the federal government through CSIF. The projects will employ 33 full-time workers.

· On Highway 16, 9 km of existing westbound lanes will be resurfaced beginning just east of Lloydminster. Potzus Paving and Road Maintenance of Yorkton is the contractor. Crushing and hauling of gravel in preparation for construction will begin at the end of February and on-road construction is slated for mid July. This project is valued at $1.6 million and will employ 43 full-time workers.

· On Highway 40, 8 km will be surfaced from west of Cutknife to the junction of Highway 21. The project will be tendered in April with on-road construction during the 2004 construction season. The project is being cost-shared with the federal government through the Prairie Grain Roads Program (PGRP).

· On Highway 21, 18.7 km will be surfaced from the Junction of Highway 40 to north of the Battle River. This project is currently up for tender and on-road construction will be underway in the 2004 summer construction season. This project will make almost all of Highway 21 between the junction of Highway 40 and Maidstone a paved standard and is being cost-shared with the federal government through the PGRP.

In addition, this region will see a bridge rehabilitation and painting project take place on the North Saskatchewan River Bridge at North Battleford. Improvements will include widening the lanes on the northbound bridge during the 2004 construction season and repainting the steel girders in 2005.

The improvement projects for the North Battleford/Lloydminster area are included on Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's 2003-04 Winter Tender Schedule (WTS). The WTS lists a total of 29 highway improvement projects, one bridge rehabilitation and 15 gravel stockpiling contracts up for tender to Saskatchewan's roadbuilding industry this winter. The total value of the WTS is $72.8 million.

The WTS represents about half of the highway improvement projects that will take place in 2004. These projects are tendered in the winter to get a jump on the spring and summer construction season, while also creating seasonal employment. Hauling gravel in preparation for these projects in the winter helps to minimize road damage since the roadbeds are frozen.

Additional highway improvements projects will be announced in the spring when the 2004-05 budget is released.

For more information about road construction projects, and other Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation activities, visit the web site at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306) 787-8484 Email: kleatherdale@highways.gov.sk.ca