1,200 KILOMETRES OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETE OR UNDERWAY IN THE 2012 CONSTRUCTION SEASON

The second-largest highways budget in Saskatchewan history has provided nearly 1,200 kilometres of highway improvements completed or underway in the 2012 construction season.

"Our crews and contractors have made tremendous progress moving forward on 1,200 kilometres of planned work," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Don McMorris said. "These improvements will keep our economy on track as we seek to build a highways system that will maintain the exciting growth we've seen take place over the past five years."

A $631.5 million investment in 2012-13 brings the total investment to $3.1 billion since the spring of 2008.

Highlights of the 2012 construction season include:

• 840 km of repaving and maintenance work to preserve and maintain provincial highways;
• 130 km of rural highways rebuilt and upgraded allowing for shippers to haul heavier loads on Highways 4, 13, 219, 310, 368 and more;
• 36 km of divided highway open to traffic on Highway 11 from north of Rosthern to south of Macdowall, leaving 13 km remaining to complete between Saskatoon and Prince Albert;
• 30 bridges replaced/rehabilitated or in progress;
• 96 culverts replaced or in progress, 34 of these due to flooding;
• 11 km new truck route (Highway 52A) completed at Yorkton;
• 6.8 km of grading completed on the West Regina Bypass, grading of the abutments and connecting ramps completed for the new Highway 1 and Pinkie Road overpass, construction of the bridge's centre pier completed, and concrete work for the abutments started; and
• 5,555 new signs installed and 6,489 signs repaired.

For more information on construction projects or road conditions and construction, go to www.highways.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Kirsten Leatherdale
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: kirsten.leatherdale@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-9692