Released on July 22, 2021
With the construction of two new sets of passing lanes between the City of Prince Albert and Christopher Lake, the safety on Highway 2 will be greatly improved.
"Highway 2 is an essential gateway to the North," Minister of Highways Fred Bradshaw said. "Passing lanes offer opportunities for motorists to pass, leading to improved traffic flow and also ensuring everyone gets to their destination safely."
This morning, Minister Bradshaw was joined by MLAs Joe Hargrave, Nadine Wilson, Alana Ross and Delbert Kirsch, as well as members from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Rural Municipality of Buckland, to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new sets of passing lanes.
These passing lanes improve traffic flow for commuters to and from communities and parks in the Prince Albert area and the province's north. The total investment for this project is $7.5 million, the first passing lane project completed under the province's $2 billion stimulus program.
"This investment is greatly appreciated by residents and motorists travelling to and from Prince Albert," MLA for Saskatchewan Rivers Nadine Wilson said. "Highway 2 is such an important corridor for the area and these new passing lanes will benefit so many people through safety and expanded capacity for an ever-growing area."
Over the next two years, the Government of Saskatchewan is constructing 30 new sets of passing lanes, building on the 27 sets constructed in the last four years. Studies have shown passing lanes can reduce collisions by as much as 25 per cent. Highway 10, the province's first major passing lanes pilot project, has seen 75 per cent fewer fatal accidents five years after its completion.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $10.6 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 17,100 km of Saskatchewan highways. This is in addition to more than 1,350 km of provincial highways constructed this year as part of the 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. With this year's projects, the province is ahead of the pace needed to meet this target.
If you're planning to travel, check the Highway Hotline at www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline or call 511 for up-to-date information on construction, emergency road closures, the status of ferries, barges and other road activities. If you have further questions or concerns regarding safety, signage, work zones and more, you may reach out to our Customer Service Centre Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 1-844-SK-HIWAY or visit us online.
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For more information, contact:
Patrick Book
Highways
Regina
Phone: 639-590-5641
Email: patrick.book@gov.sk.ca