SURFACING SET FOR HIGHWAY 17 BY ONION LAKE

A tender has been awarded for surfacing 12.6 km of Highway 17 near the Onion

Lake First Nation.



"Work for this $3.7 million surfacing project is anticipated to begin in mid-

May of 2001 and should be completed by late July," Highways and Transportation

Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Completion of this job will require an

estimated 55 full-time workers."



"Project construction is cost-shared equally with Alberta Infrastructure, as

the highway runs along the Saskatchewan-Alberta border."



This 12.6 km surfacing project is the second phase of a two-year project.

During the 2000 construction season, a 10.7 km stretch of Highway 17 south of

Onion Lake was graded. Paving will now occur on the same section. As well,

surfacing will be completed on 1.9 km of Highway 17 between the North

Saskatchewan River and this newly graded stretch. A further 500 metres will be

surfaced on a nearby municipal road located in the County of Vermilion River.



Anderson Rental & Paving Ltd. of Saskatoon was awarded this surfacing project.



Drivers are asked to watch for large trucks hauling crushed gravel in the Onion

Lake region during the months of January and February.



This resurfacing project was identified in the 2000/2001 Winter Tender Schedule

for Saskatchewan highway work, worth an estimated $90 million. The Winter

Tender Schedule ensures timely and efficient delivery of highway improvements

this spring.



"Onion Lake residents will have much easier access to Lloydminster on a smooth

new highway once paving is completed," Sonntag said. "This project

demonstrates our commitment to rural Saskatchewan to improve roads linking

communities."



-30-



For more information, contact:



Ray Connoly, Director

Engineering Projects

Highways and Transportation

Saskatoon

Phone: (306) 933-6117

(cell) (306) 230-5272