Highway 1 and Lewvan Drive – Regina Functional Planning Study

Introduction

The Government of Saskatchewan is working on a study on proposed safety and capacity improvements at the Highway 1 and Lewvan Drive interchange in Regina.

An opportunity was held for input on a variety of options. There is no time frame for construction.

The development of the design options considered:

• The existing interchange
• Safety
• Mobility and reliability
• Future traffic volumes
• Locations of utilities
• Available roadway right-of-way
• Construction staging
• Cost
• Existing overpass bridge width

Traffic volumes for the functional planning study included the City of Regina’s 2040 traffic projections and assumed the mixed-use commercial area south of Highway 1 would be fully developed. The existing interchange is shown below.

Options

Five design options are being evaluated based on:

• Safety
• Driver comfort
• Construction cost
• Traffic delays
• Operations and maintenance costs
• Ease of construction
• Stakeholder feedback

Option 1

• A northeast loop ramp without moving the existing off-ramp
• The small loop ramp means lower speeds:
  • 40 km/h on the loop ramp
  • 60 km/h on Lewvan Drive

Benefits:

• Low traffic delays
• Low impact during construction

Drawbacks:

• A low safety score due to the small loop ramp
• Second most expensive option

Option 2

• A ramp merging with the existing westbound on-ramp.
• This option includes traffic signals
• Addition of a northbound lane across the overpass
• 60 km/h speed limit on Lewvan Drive

Benefits:

• Lowest construction cost
• Lowest impact to motorists during construction

Drawbacks:

• Highest traffic delays

Option 3

• A ramp merging with the existing westbound on-ramp
• This option includes traffic signals
• Addition of a northbound lane across the overpass
• 60 km/h speed limit on Lewvan Drive
• An additional lane north of the intersection

Benefits:

• Lower traffic delays than Option 2

Drawbacks:

• Lower safety score than Option 2
• More expensive than Option 2

Option 4A

• A ramp merging with the existing westbound on-ramp
• A roundabout north of the highway
• 50 km/h speed limit on Lewvan Drive

Benefits:

• Low traffic delays
• One of the safest options

Drawbacks:

• High impact during construction

Option 4B

• A ramp merging with the existing westbound on-ramp
• Roundabouts north and south of the highway
• 50 km/h speed limit on Lewvan Drive

Benefits:

• Lowest traffic delays
• One of the safest options

Drawbacks:

• Highest impact during construction
• Most expensive option

The survey is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Next Steps

• Finalize recommendation
• Public engagement website to present recommended option
• Finalize functional design report.
• Additional design work
• Construction (no timeline)

The Functional Planning Study will be finalized in 2024.