MORE THAN $631 MILLION INVESTED IN SASKATCHEWAN HIGHWAYS IN 2012-13

The Province of Saskatchewan is investing an additional $50 million dollars into eight priority highway improvement projects across the province. This makes the 2012-13 construction season investment, a total of $631.5 million, Saskatchewan's second largest Highways and Infrastructure budget, second only to 2008.

"This record level of investment by our government demonstrates our commitment to investing in Saskatchewan's Highways," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. "Infrastructure was the top priority raised by the Saskatchewan people when discussing the provincial government's growth plan with our MLAs."

The $50 million dollar investment will be used to tender eight additional projects. Six of the eight highways are substandard Thin Membrane Surface (TMS) roads which will be upgraded to a paved standard; the remainder are repaving projects. Highways slated for upgrade include:

• Highway 15 - Grading 13 km east from Highway 11 at Kenaston;
• Highway 22 - Grading and surfacing from Southey to Earl Grey;
• Highway 41 - Repaving 10 km near Melfort from Highway 368 to the east;
• Highway 42 - First phase of upgrading, between Tuxford and Eyebrow;
• Highway 51 - Paving 10 km from Major to Highway 317;
• Highway 58 - Grading and paving between Lafleche and Gravelbourg;
• Highway 305 - Grading and paving between Warman and Martensville; and
• Highway 55 - Repaving near Meadow Lake from east of the Tolko access to Highway 903.

"Good roads make businesses in rural Saskatchewan more competitive, make our communities more attractive places to invest and improve safety and mobility for our people," Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) President David Marit said. "SARM appreciates the investment the province is making in rural Saskatchewan."

The additional $50 million in highways funding will come from the Growth and Financial Security Fund.

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For more information, contact:

Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca