Released on March 3, 2020
As part of our commitment to safety and growth, the Government of Saskatchewan is upgrading Highway 5.
“Our Growth Plan is designed to increase exports and support sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture and energy,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “Highway 5 is a key economic corridor in our province, linking the Saskatoon region with the rest of the country. I have personally driven the highway a number of times over the years, and have experienced the safety challenges that can surface from time to time. Whether it be a family driving to hockey practice or farmers moving equipment, I look forward to a more efficient and safer corridor for those in the region.”
A tender for segment one of Highway 5, about 10 km of widening and sight-line improvements through the hills and valleys east of the old Highway 27 to Blucher Road, has been awarded to HJR Asphalt of Saskatoon. Construction on this section is scheduled to begin in the spring and be completed this fall (2020). The total cost of the first phase is about $18.8 million.
This is a multi-year project that will be completed in three phases. Improvements to segment two, a 30 km section of Highway 5 from Blucher Road to Highway 2, passing lanes, widening of the shoulders, resurfacing, grade-line improvements, access consolidation, intersection realignment on the St. Denis access intersection treatments, and culvert replacements. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2021, with completion set for the fall of 2022.
The third and final segment will include twinning of Highway 5 from the existing section east of Saskatoon past Highway 316 to the Old 27 road. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by 2025.
Currently, traffic volumes range from 2,500 to 4,000 vehicles per day, but that number is expected to increase substantially on the west end of the corridor, which is why twinning is necessary.
The ministry hosted information sessions last summer to provide an overview and gather feedback for the design of phase one. Additional consultations will be held for phases two and three.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9 billion in transportation infrastructure since 2008.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6815
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca