IMPROVING HIGHWAY 13 NEAR PONTIEX

A tender has been awarded for 10.6 km of grading and paving on Highway 13 near Pontiex.

The improvement project on Highway 13 will take place from 5.4 km east of the Pontiex Access to 5.2 km west of the Pontiex Access. C.D. Botkin Construction Ltd. of Regina was awarded the contract. This project will be cost-shared with the federal government through the Prairie Grain Roads Program (PGRP), a federal-provincial partnership designed to improve Saskatchewan's secondary highways impacted by increased grain haul.

"This grading and paving project is part of our commitment to building better highways," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Road construction is expected to begin in May, and should be completed by October. Twenty-six full-time workers will be employed on this $3 million project."

"Highway 13 has experienced an increase in truck traffic, leading to rutting and rough sections. This project will improve Highway 13, enhancing an important transportation route in southern Saskatchewan and supporting regional economic development," Sonntag said.

Highway 13, also known as the Red Coat Trail, has seen a significant amount of upgrading in recent years. In the 2003 construction season almost 70 km of Highway 13 was upgraded to a paved standard or resurfaced. In the 2002 construction season a total of 70 km of Highway 13 was upgraded or resurfaced. The transformation of Highway 13, between the Manitoba Border and Cadillac, from a thin membrane surface (TMS) to a paved standard is nearing completion.

The grading and paving project on Highway 13 is included on Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation's 2003-04 Winter Tender Schedule (WTS). The WTS lists a total of 29 highway improvement projects, one bridge rehabilitation and 15 gravel stockpiling contracts up for tender to Saskatchewan's roadbuilding industry this winter. The total value of the WTS is $72.8 million.

The WTS represents about half of the highway improvement projects that will take place in 2004. They're tendered in the winter to get a jump on the spring and summer construction season. Additional highway improvement projects will be announced in the spring when the 2004-05 budget is released.

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