2012-13 CONSTRUCTION SEASON GETS ROLLING

Workers and equipment will be moving dirt and laying pavement as the 2012 highway construction season gets underway in Saskatchewan.

More than 1,200 kilometres (km) of major improvements and planned maintenance work is targeted to be complete in 2012, made possible by a budget of $581.5 million, the second largest Highways and Infrastructure budget in the province's history.

"We've put more than $2.2 billion into our highway system over the past four years," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "We're going to build on that by continuing to invest another $2.2 billion over the next four years. We are committed to improving the highways for Saskatchewan people."

Major improvements, including new capital work which is primarily completed by contractors, span more than 533 km, while planned maintenance work, performed primarily by ministry crews, totals 675 km worth of work.

"This significant investment in our highways will help to tackle the challenges that have come from years of neglect, and at the same time ensure new infrastructure is in place to accommodate our growing agriculture and resource sectors," Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association President Shantel Lipp said. "We look forward to working with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to continue to make our roads safer."

Multi-year projects designed to support economic growth, sustainability and improve safety include:

• The completion of twinning on Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, which involves opening new lanes from Rosthern to North of MacDowall.
• Continued work on the West Regina Bypass including new lanes from Highway 1 to Dewdney Avenue and a new interchange at Highway 1 to improve safety and access for truck traffic to the Global Transportation Hub.
• Begin work on the Estevan Truck Bypass.
• Begin work on new passing lanes for Highway 10, Balgonie to Fort Qu'Appelle, as part of a new passing lane initiative.

A total of 150 km of rural highway upgrades is targeted to be complete this season. This will increase Saskatchewan's network of primary weight corridors, as well as improve commuter and tourism routes and safety for motorists. Highlights include:

• Dalmeny Access Road off Highway 16;
• Highway 13 from Viceroy Access to the junction of Highway 36;
• Highway 27 from Prud'homme to Vonda;
• Highway 48 from the junction of Highway 9 to Kipling;
• Murray Point Access (Highway 263);
• Highway 310 from Foam Lake to Fishing Lake and the junction of Highway 5 to 10 km south; and
• Highway 4 near Saskatchewan Landing (truck climbing lanes).
  
  A total of 320 km of repaving and more than 675 km of maintenance work will be in progress or underway to preserve and repair damage to the highway network. Major repaving projects will take place on Highways 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 22, 32, 37, 39, 40, 55, and 106.

A total of 33 bridge and culvert replacements or repairs will be completed to address these aging structures on the transportation network. In addition, there will be continued work to replace the 100-year-old St. Louis Bridge off Highway 2.

The ministry will also make a number of safety improvements on several highways.

All construction projects are dependant on weather and contractor progress. Maintenance plans may be revised based on changing needs. For more information on construction projects go to www.highways.gov.sk.ca for a full project list and map.

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For more information, contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Cell: 306-536-9692