Highway 4 Twinning Study North of North Battleford

Introduction

The Government of Saskatchewan provided an opportunity to provide public input on proposed safety and capacity improvements on Highway 4, north of North Battleford.

This is part of the planning for 8 km of twinning on Highway 4.

Thank you for your participation.

Background

In July and August 2022, two virtual public engagement sessions were held. Information shared during the sessions included a description of the project, a map outlining the study area, an online survey, and next steps.

Feedback was collected and established some key themes:

Twinning should be extended further north due to current traffic volumes and the amount of industrial development and resulting truck traffic north of Highway 378.
Based on this feedback, the Ministry of Highways decided to extend the twinning study approximately 3.2 km to Hamlin Road.
Respondents liked:
- improved safety, and
- improved traffic capacity.
Respondents were concerned about:
- amount of time to complete the project,
- if it will be delayed,
- Highway 4 should be twinned further,
- traffic safety during and after construction,
- cost,
- environmental impacts, and
- potential impact to businesses, and landowners.

General Location Study Outcomes

The General Location Report contained the following recommendations as shown on the following map:

Highway 4 should be twinned from the end of the existing four-lane cross section in North Battleford to at least 300 metres north of Hamlin Road.
The total length of twinning is more than 8 kilometres.
The twinning configuration should be:
- Undivided four lane cross section from 30^th Avenue to approximately 300 metres north of 30^th Avenue.
- Standard width twinning with a median ditch with the new set of lanes located on the east side of the highway from approximately 300 m north of 30^th Avenue to 1.5 km north of Highway 378.
- Standard width twinning with a median ditch with the new set of lanes located on the west side of the highway from approximately 1.5 km north of Highway 378 (north project limits).

Access Management

As highways are upgraded, service roads are added, which typically reduces the number of access points to improve safety.

Proposed access modifications include:

New service road constructed from Forest Hall Road on both the east and west sides of the highway. Waterhouse Road Access removed.
New service road constructed from Highway 378, east side of the highway. Access removed on the east side of the highway north of Highway 378.
New service road constructed from Hamlin Road, east side of the highway. Access removed on the east side of the highway south of Hamlin Road.

Intersection Improvements

Proposed improvements at Highway 4 and Forest Hall Road:

Street lighting on both sides of the highway at the intersection
A northbound right turn lane
A southbound right turn lane
A northbound left turn lane

Proposed improvements at Highway 4 and Highway 378:

Streetlights on both sides of the highway
A northbound right turn lane
A southbound left turn lane

Proposed improvements at Highway 4 and Hamlin Road:

Widened median for heavy truck turning
Street lighting on both sides of the highway approaching and departing the intersection
A northbound right turn lane
A southbound right turn lane
A northbound left turn lane

Online Question & Answer Sessions

Two special online sessions were held April 10 and 11 to discuss the study.

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

Next Steps

Gather feedback
Consider and include feedback in Functional Planning Study
Finalize report
Additional design work
Construction (no timeline)