CONTINUING TO IMPROVE SASKATCHEWAN’S HIGHWAYS

The 2013-14 Budget will continue to improve Saskatchewan’s highways by providing $576.0 million to build, maintain and operate Saskatchewan’s 26,000 kilometre (km) highway system.  This includes a $280.8 million highway construction budget.

“The 2013 budget includes continued work on major, new, multi-year projects that support the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth and our government’s vision of a province of 1.2 million people by 2020,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said.  “At the same time, we are making a sizable investment to continue repairing and renewing our existing highways and roads.”

Highlights of the Highways and Infrastructure budget include:

• $63.6 million for major, multi-year projects that contribute to Saskatchewan’s continued growth, such as:
• Starting work on the Estevan Truck Bypass;
• Breaking ground on a series of passing lanes between Balgonie and Fort Qu’Appelle; and
• West Regina Bypass – complete the new overpass at Highway 1 and continue work on the new lanes from Highway 1 to Dewdney Ave.
• $168.1 million to repair and upgrade existing highways, including:
• $81.8 million for local capital projects;
• Includes 75 km of rural highway upgrades like:
• Grading on Highway 15 east of Highway 11 – part of the new high-clearance corridor;
• Upgrading Highway 22 from Southey to Earl Grey;
• Starting upgrades to Highway 42 from Tuxford to Eyebrow; and
• Grading and paving the Dalmeny Access Road and Highway 305 from Highway 11 to Highway 12.
• $86.3 million to repave about 280 km of highway.
• $49.1 million to rehabilitate or replace bridges and culverts, including $14.4 million for continued work on the new St. Louis Bridge.
• $25.5 million for the Municipal Roads for the Economy Program, a $2.0 million increase from last year.
• $269.7 million for activities like day-to-day operation and maintenance of the transportation system, grants to urban municipalities, engineering services and transportation planning and winter maintenance.

“This year’s budget represents a nine per cent increase since our first budget in 2008 and puts us half way to meeting our campaign commitment to invest $2.2 billion into our highways and roads over four years,” McMorris said.  “We’ve invested more than a half a billion dollars per year in transportation each year since coming to office - a total of $3.7 billion.”

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure operates and maintains 26,000 km of provincial highways, 12 ferries and 17 northern airports.  The ministry also regulates about 2,000 km of shortline railways.

In addition, this year’s provincial budget provides $6.0 million to SaskBuilds to begin preparatory work on a number of public-private partnership opportunities (P3s) including Regina’s bypass infrastructure.

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For more information, contact:

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