PROVINCE AND MUNICIPALITIES PARTNER TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY 339

Released on August 15, 2007

The province has invested $800,000 to upgrade Highway 339 through a partnership agreement with area municipalities as construction on this transportation link moves ahead to improve the lives of Saskatchewan families.

"Through this agreement, six kilometres of this transportation link will be upgraded, while the bulk of heavy truck traffic will be diverted off Highways 339 and 334, in order to maintain a quality highway for the residents of Briercrest, Avonlea and surrounding area, as well as for tourism traffic to the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site and other local attractions," Highways and Transportation Minister Buckley Belanger said.

"This is the kind of collaboration and innovative approach that is key to the province's long-term transportation strategy called Transportation for Economic Advantage."

Highway 339 from the Junction of Highway 39 south to Avonlea is a thin membrane surface (TMS) highway designed to carry passenger vehicles and light trucks. High volumes of grain and other heavy truck traffic travel the highway, which has resulted in rough spots and surface breaks. Under the agreement, the majority of heavy truck traffic has been diverted onto nearby municipal gravel roads designed to carry heavier weights, while the surface on Highway 339 will be restored to good driving condition. The municipalities will be compensated by the province for additional wear and tear on their gravel roads.

"The province has truck route management agreements in place with municipalities on 600 km of highway across the province and Highway 339 is another great example," Belanger said.

"By working together, we can use the provincial and municipal road systems in a practical, efficient and cost-effective manner to provide better access to local and tourism traffic and to provide access for heavy trucks hauling goods needed to support economic development in the area."

Six kilometres of Highway 339 near Claybank will be strengthened and resurfaced to a granular pavement to handle the heavy trucks that will still need to access this small portion of the highway, while providing an improved surface for motorists. This work is being done by Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation, along with W.F. Botkin Construction Ltd. of Regina. This work began August 7 and is expected to be finished by mid September. Repairs were also made earlier this summer on Highway 339 between the Junction of Highway 39 and six kilometres north of Briercrest.

Municipal partners on the Highway 339 agreement include the Villages of Avonlea and Briercrest and the Rural Municipalities of Key West No. 70, Baildon No. 131, Redburn No. 130, Elmsthorpe No. 100, Pense No. 160 and Moose Jaw No. 161.

Transportation for Economic Advantage is the province's long-term transportation strategy. This strategy is a 10-year, $5-billion commitment to fundamentally realign the province's transportation network to meet the current and future demands of Saskatchewan's thriving and robust economy, while also looking at partnerships and new ways to do business.

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation would also like to remind motorists to slow to 60 km/hr in the Orange Zone when passing highway workers and equipment.

For more information on highway construction and Transportation for Economic Advantage, please visit www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Dan Palmer
Highways and Transportation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4805
Email: dpalmer@highways.gov.sk.ca