Released on September 15, 2020
There are now more opportunities to pass safely on highways in west central Saskatchewan. Three passing lanes recently opened near Kindersley, while work continues on five more.“Highway 7 is a busy corridor for commuters and shippers who transport goods to national and international markets,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “The passing lanes will allow travelers who drive the highway additional opportunities to pass safely.”
Passing lanes can reduce collisions by 25 per cent at a cost that is 80 per cent less than that of twinning. The $19.2 million project includes a total of four sets of passing lanes, which are under construction from Kindersley to Fiske, as well as six intersection improvements and paving. Work is scheduled for completion this fall, weather permitting.
Since 2014, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $120 million in safety improvements on Highway 7 between Saskatoon and Kindersley including twinning, passing lanes, intersection improvements and paving. Last year, two sets of passing lanes opened between Rosetown and Fiske. In recent years, several highway safety improvements have been completed on Highway 7 including twinning from Saskatoon to Delisle and the installation of four sets of passing lanes from Rosetown to Delisle.
Construction on three sets of passing lanes west of Kindersley to the Saskatchewan/Alberta border is scheduled to begin next year in 2021. 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 kilometres (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.
-30-
For more information, contact:
David Horth
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: david.horth@gov.sk.ca