PROVINCE COMMITS FUNDING TO HIGHWAY 22 UPGRADE

The provincial government has committed to provide from $4 to $6 million over the next five years to upgrade Highway 22 from the Junction of Highway 6 to Earl Grey from gravel to structural pavement.

The upgrade will allow for primary weights to be hauled year-round on Highway 22 to the Pioneer Grain Terminal, and provide local residents with a paved surface from Southey to Earl Grey.

"Under the Rural Economic Corridor pillar of the province's long-term transportation strategy, Transportation for Economic Advantage, the province has put this funding on the table to encourage our municipal and industry partners to enter into a multi-year partnership agreement to upgrade Highway 22," Highways and Transportation Minister Buckley Belanger said.

This investment would see the upgrading of Highway 22 from Highway 6 past the Pioneer Grain Terminal located west of Southey and on to the Village of Earl Grey.

"Under Transportation for Economic advantage, we are looking at a collaborative approach in order to accelerate the delivery of projects," Belanger said. "As with similar partnerships the province has entered into, we have taken a phased approach; Highway 22 was a poor performing thin membrane surface highway, and the first phase was to build up the road bed and improve the surface to a high standard gravel. We are hoping, with municipal and industry participation, we can accelerate the next phase of construction and upgrade the corridor to a structural pavement.

"This will allow Pioneer Grain and their customers to capture the efficiencies of hauling primary weights year-round, and will also provide local motorists with improved access to education, medical services, employment, shopping and many other social and economic needs."

Similar partnership agreements have resulted in partners contributing partial funding, aggregate materials, special hauling allowances over grid roads during construction and other forms of assistance, in order to accelerate projects.

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For more information, contact:

Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Transportation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Cell: 306-536-0049