Up To 50 Sets Of Passing Lanes Highlight $715 Million Commitment To Safety And Economic Stimulus In Highways Budget

Released on June 15, 2020

The Government of Saskatchewan will invest $715 million in 2020-21 to improve safety and efficiency while providing a needed boost to people and communities recovering from the economic impact of the global pandemic.

"Our government is pleased to invest in infrastructure that will boost our economy and improve safety,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said.  “This year’s Highways Budget will create jobs for Saskatchewan people as we build a number of key projects that will serve the province for decades to come.”

Totals contained in budget documents released today reflect Estimates tabled in March and the first year of a two-year government-wide stimulus program announced in May.

Budget 2020-21 provides $411 million for strategic capital investments to improve safety and efficiency on key highway corridors.

Major construction projects include:

• Nine sets of passing lanes and resurfacing and widening on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and the Canada-US Border;
• Four sets of passing lanes and resurfacing on Highway 7 between Rosetown and Kindersley, plus planning for three additional sets of passing lanes between Kindersley and the Saskatchewan-Alberta border;
• Two sets of passing lanes, resurfacing and widening of Highway 5, plus planning for a short section of twinning between Saskatoon and the junction of Highway 2;
• Three sets of passing lanes on Highway 10 between Melville and Yorkton; and
• Three sets of passing lanes on Highway 9 between Yorkton and Canora.

This year’s investments include planning work for an additional 24 to 26 sets of passing lanes which will proceed to construction in 2021, including:

• 13 to 15 sets on Highway 16 from Clavet to the Saskatchewan-Manitoba Border;
• Three sets on Highway 14 from Saskatoon to Asquith;
• Three sets on Highway 12 from Martensville to Highway 312; 
• Three sets on Highway 3 west of Prince Albert to Shellbrook; and
• Two sets on Highway 2 north of Prince Albert to Highway 263.

The Government of Saskatchewan will improve more than 1,000 kilometres (km) of provincial highways, the first year of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways.

Those improvements include:

• 280 km of repaving;
• 460 km of pavement sealing;
• 100 km of medium treatments, like microsurfacing;
• 35 km of gravel rehabilitation;
• 120 km of rural highway upgrades; and
• 60 km of twinning and passing lanes.

The Government of Saskatchewan will invest $52 million to upgrade and replace bridges and culverts across the province.

The Budget also contains $20 million in investments as part of the government’s continuing strategy to improve road safety around the province.

This includes:

• $13 million for the second year of a five-year $65-million enhanced intersection safety investment; and
• $7 million through the Safety Improvement Program to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

The Budget also increases important investments in municipal transportation infrastructure, including:

• $14 million more, or a 100 per cent increase, for a total of $28 million to support economic growth and safety on rural municipal roads;
• $672,000 more for a total of $7.3 million for construction and maintenance partnerships with urban municipalities; and
• $800,000, or a 114 per cent increase, for a total of $1.5 million to support community airport improvements. This dollar-for-dollar matching program will support a $3.0 million investment.

With this year’s budget, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9.8 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 15,800 kilometres of Saskatchewan highways.

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For more information, contact:

David Horth
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: david.horth@gov.sk.ca