IMPROVING HIGHWAY 13 WEST OF VICEROY

A tender has been awarded for 18.5 km of surfacing on Highway 13 west of Viceroy.

The improvement project on Highway 13 will take place from 0.4 km west of the Viceroy Access to 1.2 km west of the Verwood Access. W.F. Botkin Construction Ltd. of Regina was awarded the contract. This project will be cost-shared with the federal government through the Prairie Grain Roads Program (PGRP), a federal and provincial partnership designed to improve Saskatchewan's secondary highways impacted by increased grain haul.

"This surfacing project is part of our commitment to building better highways," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Road construction is expected to begin in May and wrap up in August. Thirty-one full-time workers will be employed on this $2.6 million project."

"Highway 13 has experienced an increase in truck traffic, leading to rutting and rough sections," Sonntag said. "This project will improve Highway 13, enhancing an important transportation route in southern Saskatchewan and supporting regional economic development. The improvements demonstrate once again that transportation is a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan."

Highway 13, also known as the Red Coat Trail, has seen a significant amount of upgrading in recent years. In the 2003 construction season almost 70 km of Highway 13 was upgraded to a paved standard or resurfaced. In the 2002 construction season a total of 70 km of Highway 13 was upgraded or resurfaced. The transformation of Highway 13 from a thin membrane surface (TMS) to a paved standard is nearing completion.

The surfacing project west of Viceroy was included on Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's 2003-04 Winter Tender Schedule (WTS). The WTS lists a total of 29 highway improvement projects, one bridge rehabilitation and 15 gravel stockpiling contracts up for tender to Saskatchewan's road building industry this winter. The total value of the WTS is $72.8 million.

The WTS represents about half of the highway improvement projects that will take place in 2004. They're tendered in the winter to get a jump on the spring and summer construction season. Additional projects will be announced in the spring when the 2004-05 budget is released.

For more information about road construction projects and other Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation activities, visit the web site at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306) 787-8484