Released on December 23, 2014
As you head out on the highways this holiday season please drive safely, watch for snowplows and check the Hotline before you set out.“Snowplow operators will be patrolling and treating the highways to help you reach your destination safely,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said. “If a storm does hit, crews are ready to clear the way.”
Saskatchewan’s 26,000 kilometres of highways are cleared on a priority system based on population centres and traffic volumes:
- Level 1 – Goal is to clear within six hours of a storm’s end. These are major inter-provincial and commuter routes that connect communities with a population of 3,000 or more and have a daily traffic count of 1,500 vehicles or more;
- Level 2 – Goal is to clear within 12 hours of a storm’s end. These routes have a daily traffic count between 300 and 1,500 vehicles; and
- Level 3 – Goal is to clear within 24 hours of a storm’s end. These are all other highways with a traffic count of 300 vehicles or less.
To help you plan your trip, the ministry has made some upgrades to the Highway Hotline. Users on hand-held devices can experience an improved mobile site. There is a travel planning tool, a new incident icon, an alert banner for such things as amber alerts, and greater detail on restrictions in work zones.
The latest road condition updates are available on the Highway Hotline at www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline. Recorded reports are also available by calling 306-787-7623 in Regina, 306-933-8333 in Saskatoon, the SaskTel cellular network at *ROAD, and toll-free across Canada at 1-888-335-7623.
For road closures and travel not recommended alerts on Twitter, check out the Highway Hotline account @SKGovHwyHotline. For general tips, visit the Highway Hotline on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SaskatchewanHighwayHotline.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Rathwell
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: mark.rathwell@gov.sk.ca