NEARLY $22 MILLION OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINCE ALBERT AREA

This year the Government of Saskatchewan will invest nearly $22 million into highway improvements for the Prince Albert area, including continued twinning of Highway 11 to help ensure this important link meets the transportation needs of the province's economic momentum.

"Our province is going through an amazing period of rapid expansion and growth. The time is now to invest in infrastructure that is so crucial to Saskatchewan's future," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard said.

"Our long-range goal is to work towards twinning the entire Highway 11 corridor. Having four lanes between Prince Albert and Saskatoon will do much to expand capacity for Saskatchewan shippers while connecting northern and central Saskatchewan to national and international trade routes."

Highway 11 twinning south of Prince Albert

Grading work is nearly complete on an 11 km section of twinned highway from north of Macdowall to the junction of Highway 2 south of Prince Albert. Paving should get underway by the end of August, weather permitting. The total project cost for the Prince Albert area twinning is $6.7 million.

Other Projects in the Area

• Highway 2 near Waskesiu: The Province has just completed a $2.16 million project to repave a 10 km section of Highway 2 just north of the Waskesiu turn-off (Highway 264) to just south of Bittern Creek. The improvements are designed to ease traffic flow into one of Saskatchewan's prime tourist destinations.
• Highway 302: Surfacing is nearing completion on a 4 km section of Highway 302 that was relocated following a landslide in June of 2006. All that remains is a final seal coat with this year's work valued at $620,000.
• Highway 6 (North of the Saskatchewan River): The Province is repaving 7 km of this highway for a total of $1.65 million. The project is expected to get underway by late August.
• Highway 40 (Southwest of Parkside to east of Leask): A $2.78 million project is expected to get underway in late August to repave 13 km of Highway 40.
• Highway 55 (Smeaton to West of Foxford): A $5.5 million project is expected to get underway in mid August to repave about 22 km of Highway 55.
• Highway 41: A $2.3 million surfacing project wrapped up last week to rehabilitate nearly 7 km of Highway 41 east of Wakaw.
• Culvert installation 1 km east of Meath Park: The Province is spending $240,000 to replace an old wooden bridge with a large culvert about 1 km east of Meath Park. The project is slated for later this fall.

"These highway improvement projects are designed to help facilitate economic development and create safer highways in the region," Elhard said. "We are pleased that the Prince Albert region is benefiting from the largest Highways budget in Saskatchewan's history."

-30-

For more information, contact:

Lynette Piper
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-798-2116
Cell: 306-536-9692