Released on August 17, 2012
Corridor for More Efficient Trucking Open
A $25-million upgraded portion of Highway 368 in east-central Saskatchewan recently opened to traffic, making it easier to move goods from the area because trucks can carry greater payloads.
"This upgrade makes shipping more efficient which is important to support the province's export-based economy and to build on the Saskatchewan Advantage," Batoche MLA Delbert Kirsch said on behalf of Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris. "It's great to see this project reach this milestone."
The 35 km-long Highway 368 upgrade stretching from Grid Road 756 south of Lake Lenore to Pleasantdale Grid Road south of St. Brieux fully opened to traffic in July. This opening now allows nine-month primary truck traffic to travel on all 90 km of paved Highway 368 stretching from its junction with Highway 5 east of Humboldt to Highways 41 and 3 west of Melfort.
"This gap in the provincial highway network's primary weight system has now been closed for shippers, thanks to this work," Melfort MLA Kevin Phillips said. "Primary weight is the highest legal weight shippers can haul on a provincial highway. If a truck can haul a larger payload, it means fewer trips are needed, which contributes to greater transportation efficiency and gives the province a competitive edge."
The project became a reality thanks to a partnership formed with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure; the Village of Lake Lenore; the Town of St. Brieux; the Rural Municipalities of St. Peter, Humboldt, Lake Lenore and Three Lakes; Bourgault Industries; along with the Lake Lenore Agro-Coop.
"Our farm equipment manufacturing business is very pleased about the work to rebuild Highway 368, which will allow the commerce of the area to return to normal," Bourgault Industries Ltd. President Gerry Bourgault said. "It will provide better and more direct access for trucks hauling steel, components and supplies to our plants and assembled equipment away from them. This upgrade to Highway 368 will also allow us to attract more employees from south of St. Brieux to help us meet the demand for farm equipment that we are currently unable to fill."
Construction on the Highway 368 upgrade began in the summer of 2008. Cleanup work in the ditches is expected to be finished during the 2012 construction season. Motorists should be aware of the possibility of equipment working nearby.
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For more information, contact:
Dan Palmer
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4805