RIBBON-CUTTING HELD FOR HIGHWAY 304 COMPLETION

A $2.3 million, 18 km surfacing project on Highway 304 west of Highway 4 was

completed today. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the event with Highways and

Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag and local civic officials attending.



In 1998, the department surfaced 16.2 km of Highway 304 beginning at Makwa and

continuing east to the start of this year's project. The cost of that project

was $2.1 million.



Since 1997, $4.4 million has been spent on surfacing on Highway 304 between

Makwa and Junction 4 Highway. The entire length of Highway 304 is now surfaced.



Surfacing on the last 18 km stretch of Highway 304 required extensive

improvements as more heavy trucks began using this route.



"People travelling between Makwa and Meadow Lake can now enjoy a smooth

highway," Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "This

section of Highway 304 had been a thin dust-free surface and was in rough shape.



"This upgrading project completes an important highway link between Highways 26

and 4 and will greatly improve safety on this highway as well as the comfort of

the ride."



Highway 304 improvements include reshaping of the earth subgrade, and

strengthening the highway with layers of sand and gravel, and a double seal

coat. Carmacks Enterprises Ltd., was awarded the latest construction project

as the lowest bidder and began hauling gravel in November 1999, with surfacing

commencing in late July. The surfacing project started just west of the

junction of Highways 304 and 4 and continued 18 km west.



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For more information, contact:



Ray Connoly, Director

Engineering Projects

Saskatoon

Phone: (306) 933-6117

(cell) 306-230-5272