Released on August 13, 2020
With the largest per capita highway system in the country, it takes plenty of paint to keep highways safe.
“Good pavement marking is a cost-effective safety investment that reduces collisions and saves lives,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottrenbreit said. “An additional $1.5 million will be invested this year to increase the ministry’s pavement marking program by 10 per cent.”
This year, five units will paint nearly 50,000 kilometres (km) of centre and shoulder lines as well as more than 34,000 pavement signs such as arrows and stop bars.
Pavement marking provides drivers with critical information, such as where their wheels should be in inclement weather and where they can safely pull over during an emergency. They also alert drivers to passing opportunities and intersection locations. The normal wear and tear from traffic, snowplow blades and the regular weather elements mean these important safety tools need to be repainted annually.
More than 1,000,000 litres of paint is applied to the roads in an average year. Spherical glass beads are added to the paint to add reflection for nighttime driving and provide durability.
Pavement marking typically begins in late May or early June and continues into the early winter. Drivers are required to slow to 60 km/hr when passing line painting trucks with lights flashing.
A weekly highway construction update is also published on www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/transportation/highway-construction-projects/weekly-highway-construction-update to provide the travelling public with the latest details on projects underway to help plan safe and efficient travel. You can also report a highway work zone signing problem by calling 306-244-5535.
The Government of Saskatchewan will improve more than 1,000 km of provincial highways this year, the first of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9.8 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 15,800 km of Saskatchewan highways. Another $300 million in highways stimulus funds will be invested over the next two years to stimulate Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.
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For more information, contact:
Steve Shaheen
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-933-5641
Email: steve.shaheen@gov.sk.ca