PROVINCE REDUCES TRADE BARRIERS IN TRUCKING INDUSTRY

Released on June 8, 2010

The provincial government is reducing barriers to trade by investing $1.6 million to develop high clearance trucking corridors for transporting over-dimension loads.

High clearance highways make it easier to do business in Saskatchewan by offering efficient and cost-effective transportation of over dimension loads. These corridors allow over-sized loads to be trucked without the need to raise or temporarily cut utility lines and other structures. The corridors will run from Saskatoon to the Alberta border on Hwy 7 and Melville to Rosetown via Highways 15 and 4.

"Providing reliable, low cost and efficient routes to export markets is a primary focus of our government's management of the transportation system," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "We are listening to the people who create jobs and investment in Saskatchewan and responding to their needs."

This project was made possible through collaborative work between Enterprise Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and private sector input.

"From the very beginning, Enterprise Saskatchewan's mandate has been centered around listening to the business community in the province, and working collaboratively to remove barriers to growth," Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "Not only have we worked to smooth out regulatory burdens and taxation issues, but now we have been able to remove actual physical barriers to export growth. That translates into success for the industry, success for government and success for the taxpayers of this province."

In addition to providing high clearance corridors, the province will also simplify the process for transporting over-dimension loads. Previously, shippers had to work with regulatory authorities to plan a route and arrange for utilities to be raised or cut with each move. Shippers will now pay a permit fee to use the corridor, however, compared to the cost of raising utilities for each move, this permit fee will dramatically reduce costs.

The growth and success of the province's manufacturing sector has led to increased demand for Saskatchewan-made products such as Ready-to-Move houses and industrial products destined for the oil sands. In addition, many economic development projects occurring within the province, like expansion of potash mining and the Co-op upgrader at Regina, require the importation of over-dimension components, equipment and machinery.

The government will continue to listen and work to address the needs and concerns of these growing sectors through interaction with Enterprise Saskatchewan and ministry working groups. This will help to ensure that Saskatchewan has one of the most attractive business climates and regulatory environments in the country.

The $1.6 million will be used to permanently raise or bury overhead utilities and will be recouped by charging permit fees to users. Once the initial investment has been recovered, permit fees will be used to cover maintenance and upgrading of the corridors and development of additional corridors to provide a high clearance network across Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804