IMPROVING HIGHWAY 1 WEST OF REGINA

Construction is now underway to resurface 21 km of Highway 1 west of Regina.

Resurfacing is taking place on the westbound lanes from the Grand Coulee access to east of Belle Plaine. There will also be various spot improvements on the eastbound lanes from 3 km to 18 km west of the junction of Highways 1 and 6. Ramco Paving Ltd. of Regina was awarded the contract.

The public is advised that there will be an occasional disruption of traffic during the construction period. This project should be completed in late June and is valued at $2.2 million.

Other resurfacing work on Highway 1 will take place on 23 km of the eastbound lanes between Webb and Gull Lake and on 6 km on the westbound lanes from Gull Lake east. This project has not yet been tendered – project details will be made available once the tender is awarded.

Twinning construction on Highway 1 this year includes opening 40 km of new lanes from east of Wolseley to west of Broadview; beginning work on two new railway overpasses west of Broadview; and working on grading an additional 26.7 km from 5.9 km west of Broadview to 3 km west of Whitewood in preparation for paving in 2005. The province is on track to complete twinning the TransCanada Highway across Saskatchewan by 2007. These projects will be cost-shared with the federal government through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program.

"Highway 1 serves as an important trade corridor and tourism link to the rest of Canada as part of the National Highway System," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "These improvements will enhance safety and support economic development, demonstrating once again that transportation is a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan."

Over the past three years, the province has invested $900 million in Saskatchewan's transportation network, improving 1,000 km of paved highways, upgrading 750 km of rural highways, and twinning 172 km on Highways 1 and 16.

This year's budget provides an additional $294.8 million to improve another 740 km of major highways and 30 bridges, and twin 53 km on Highways 1 and 16 this construction season.

Remember to slow to 60 km per hour when passing through the construction Orange Zone, and watch for construction workers, signs and heavy equipment.

For more information about construction in your area, view the provincial project map at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Doug Wakabayashi Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4805