IMPROVING SAFETY ON HIGHWAY 1 EAST OF REGINA

The provincial government is fast-tracking the immediate recommendations of the Highway 1 East Functional Planning Study, Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter announced today.

"The study, which involved extensive consultation from the communities in the area, outlined a number of steps that can be taken very quickly that will improve safety and traffic flow on Highway 1 in the vicinities of Pilot Butte, Emerald Park, White City and Balgonie," Reiter said. "The measures we are announcing today will become part of the long term solution and are projects we intend to begin working on immediately."

Improvements include:

• Construction of an eastbound (EB) to southbound (SB) right turn ramp from Highway 1 to Highway 48 at White City;
• Construction of a northbound (NB) to EB right turn ramp from Highway 48 to Highway 1;
• Construction of a westbound (WB) to NB right turn ramp from Highway 1 to Highway 46 at Balgonie; and
• Functional planning for future interchanges at the junction of Highway 1 and the Pilot Butte Access Road, Highway 48 at White City and Highway 46 at Balgonie. Functional planning identifies things like the layout of the interchange, the layout and location of connecting roads, land requirements and environmental considerations.

In addition to the above improvements the Ministry will be evaluating the feasibility of traffic lights, reduced speed limits, and enhanced lighting along the Highway 1 East Regina Corridor.

The Highway 1 East Functional Planning Study was commissioned by the ministry, the towns of Pilot Butte, White City and Balgonie, and the RM of Edenwold to develop a long-term plan to address capacity and safety concerns on Highway 1 east of Regina. The consultant had delivered preliminary recommendations to the study partners and to the general public at an open house in October. A summary of the recommendations is attached and can be viewed online at http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/highway1east/.

"This has been the most consultative and open process of this nature the ministry has ever engaged in," Reiter said. "I would like to thank the Mayors and Reeve for their participation and leadership in this process; they have been invaluable in ensuring everyone had a voice and all concerns were considered."

Engineering work on the measures announced today will begin almost immediately, with construction of the turning ramps to begin in 2011.

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For more information, contact:

Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-0049