IMPROVING HIGHWAY 37 NEAR FRENCHMAN RIVER

Construction is once again underway on 6 km of grading on Highway 37 near the Frenchman River.

Grading, or preparing the roadbed for surfacing, is taking place on Highway 37 from 3 km south to 3 km north of the Frenchman River. This work began in the 2003 construction season and was underway again at the beginning of May. Work on this project will wrap up in the 2004 summer construction season.

Surfacing will then follow from 3 km south to 10.6 km north of the Frenchman River, for a total length of 13.6 km. The surfacing construction will begin in July of 2004.

The total cost for this grading and surfacing work is $6.3 million. The work 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.

The public's patience over the construction period is appreciated. There will be occasional disruption of traffic until the project is complete.

"This grading and paving project is part of our commitment to building better highways," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "The work on Highway 37 will improve safety and support regional economic development, demonstrating once again that transportation is a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan."

The public is invited to attend an open house to discuss construction on Highway 37 in the Frenchman Valley area on May 25th, 2004, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Climax Community Hall in Climax, Saskatchewan. This will be an opportunity for the public to learn more about the unique challenges and progress that has been made on this project.

Over the past three years, the province has invested $900 million in Saskatchewan's transportation network, improving 1,000 km of paved highways, upgrading 750 km of rural highways, and twinning 172 km on Highways 1 and 16.

This year's budget provides an additional $294.8 million to improve another 740 km of major highways and 30 bridges, and twin 53 km on Highways 1 and 16 this construction season.

Remember to slow to 60 km/h when passing through the construction Orange Zone, and watch for construction workers, signs and heavy equipment. For more information about construction in your area, view the provincial project map at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306) 787-8484