$122 MILLION FOR MAJOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

The provincial government will invest $122 million in improving Saskatchewan's highway network in the 2004-05 construction season.

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag announced funding details today at the spring meeting of the Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association.

Building on the $72.8 million Winter Tender Schedule announced in November 2003, the 2004 Spring Tender Schedule released today will provide $44.5 million of additional work. The combined value of these tender schedules and other major projects is $122 million. Improvements will be made on 740 kms of highways and 30 bridges in the upcoming construction season.

"The Government of Saskatchewan has provided another substantial investment in our highway network, driving our economy with a safer and more efficient transportation system," Sonntag said. "We are focused on twinning on our national highways, resurfacing provincial highways and rebuilding our rural roads."

The upcoming construction season will not only serve to strengthen Saskatchewan's highway network, but will also create jobs for more than 1,200 seasonal construction workers.

Highlights of the 2004-05 construction season include:

· opening 54 km of newly-twinned highway at a cost of $29 million;

· resurfacing 325 km of paved highways at a cost of $41 million;

· upgrading 185 km of Thin Membrane Surface highways in rural and northern Saskatchewan to a paved standard at a cost of over $40 million; and

· investing over $31 million to preserve, operate and improve northern highways, bridges and airports.

Major initiatives include:

· twinning 39.7 km from east of Wolseley to west of Broadview on Highway 1 East;

· twinning 13.6 km from west of North Battleford to east of Delmas on Highway 16 West;

· surfacing 16 km of Highway 6 north of the U.S. border at a cost of $2 million, which completes a multi-year, $10.2 million project to reconstruct the Highway 6 trade corridor between the border and Regina;

· grading and paving the 13 km gravel section of Highway 42 from southeast of Brownlee to southeast of Eyebrow at a cost of $2.3 million;

· paving 29 km of Highway 13 near Ponteix and Viceroy, at a cost of $4.8 million;

· paving 15 km on the Annaheim Access Road at a cost of $1.2 million, in partnership with industry and municipalities;

· rehabilitating the south bridge over the North Saskatchewan River in North Battleford at a cost of $3 million;

· completing spot improvements to the Athabasca Seasonal Road at a cost of $2 million;

· investing $3 million to partner with the City of Regina and federal government to widen and resurface Highway 1/Victoria Avenue in southeast Regina;

· extending the Tourism Destination Signing Program for another year, to support tourism and the province's upcoming Centennial celebrations; and

· completing road improvements in Meadow Lake and Makwa Provincial Parks.

"In Saskatchewan, highways are a lifeline – connecting us to one another and driving economic development," Sonntag said. "The improvements scheduled for the 2004-05 construction season demonstrate once again that transportation is a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan."

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's budget this year is $294.8 million, which includes $122 million for major highway and bridge improvements and $118 million for smaller highway and bridge projects, routine maintenance, traffic safety activities and the operation of 13 ferries and 18 northern airports.

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