PRIMARY WEIGHT CORRIDORS BENEFIT MUNICIPALITIES

Saskatchewan municipalities have access to $10 million from the Provincial Government through the Clearing the Path (CTP) Primary Weight Corridor program, to build and maintain roads that can handle heavy trucks and link to highways.

"We've doubled funding to the program to $10 million this year so that roads can be improved, maintained, tie into highways, and create a network to help build and sustain economic growth in rural and urban communities," Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson said. "We're excited to see municipalities using the program and we're encouraging more to send in their applications."

The deadline for applications is August 31, 2008, for next year. Municipalities can find the criteria and application process at http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/grants/primary-corridor/.

Primary Weight Corridors are municipal roads designed to carry heavy truck traffic and link to primary weight highways. Primary weight varies by truck configuration, but for a standard five-axle semi-trailer truck, the allowable weight on a primary highway is 39,500 kg and is usually 15-20 per cent heavier than secondary weight.

"Saskatchewan's export-driven economy relies in large part on bulk shipments of commodities, from grain to potash, by truck," Hutchinson said. "It makes having roads that can handle heavy trucks and connect to highways vitally important."

"The main objective of the Clearing the Path project was to provide more rural communities with access to primary weight roads to facilitate economic development," Clearing the Path program chair Richard Porter said. "The committee appreciates the co-operation between the province and municipalities, as their efforts have made our vision a reality."

Last year, the program provided $5 million to municipalities for signs and maintenance of the corridors. In the first year, 128 rural municipalities, 28 towns and villages and one First Nation signed agreements for maintenance and signage for approximately 4,200 kilometres of Primary Weight Corridors.

This year, $10 million is being provided with approximately $4.5 million targeted for reconstruction of existing primary weight roads. The program will cover up to 50 per cent of costs related to grading projects and up to 60 per cent for paving projects. To date this year, 44 rural municipalities have applied; 22 have received initial approval from the program committee.

The Primary Weight Corridor initiative was created through the Clearing the Path program developed by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), to address economic impediments in rural communities.

More details about Clearing the Path and Primary Weight Corridors, including a map of the corridors network, are available at www.clearingthepath.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Jeff Welke
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6156
Email: jeff.welke@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-1185