Released on December 9, 2015
Construction is now underway on the White City overpass, which is a key part of the Regina Bypass. This vital link will connect Highway 48 to Highway 1 at White City, eliminating the need to make left turns on or off of Highway 1. The overpass will be open to traffic in 2017."This overpass improves safety for everyone, from children riding school buses to people commuting to and from work," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said. "This overpass is a key component in our plan to resolve traffic safety issues arising from growth in the communities east of Regina."
The Regina Bypass will have 12 overpasses, including overpasses at White City, Balgonie and the Pilot Butte access. Service roads will allow Pilot Butte residents to use the White City overpass as an alternate route during construction of the overpass at the Pilot Butte access.
These measures are part of an overall plan to improve safety on Highway 1 in partnership with the Province of Saskatchewan, the towns of White City, Pilot Butte and Balgonie, and the RM of Edenwold.
“The residents of White City, together with all travellers along the White Butte Corridor on Highway 1 east of Regina, have waited for decades for construction of this essential project to begin,” White City Mayor Bruce Evans said. “Combining our overpass with other equally important overpasses at Balgonie, Pilot Butte and westward to and around Regina is by far the best way to address a major regional transportation problem.”
“We strongly support this overpass,” RM of Edenwold Reeve Mitchell Huber said. “While the added safety is immeasurable, there are also a number of economic benefits for folks in the area.”
Initial work on the White City overpass will focus on the foundation for the pier that will be built in the Highway 1 median to support the bridge deck. Work on grading the bridge abutments is expected to begin in the new year.
“We are delighted with the early progress of the bypass,” Regina Bypass Partners President Tim Heavenor said. “This project is moving forward quickly, which is a true testament to the hard work of our bypass team and the great relationships we have with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, our stakeholders and partners.”
Motorists are reminded that construction on the overpass brings with it active work zones on Highway 1 and connecting roads. Traffic restrictions will be posted on the Highway Hotline.
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For more information, contact:
Sonja Orban
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: sonja.orban@gov.sk.ca