Highways construction season wraps, passing lanes were the focus

By Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

REGINA - Passing lanes everywhere was a key theme for road construction in Saskatchewan over 2020, and on Dec. 4, the province reported the conclusion of this year’s construction.

The highlight was the opening of new passing lanes on Highways 7, 9, 10 and 39 in Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Highways and Transportation said in a release.

“Our government is committed to improving highway safety and we are making record investments to achieve that goal,” Highways Minister Joe Hargrave said. “Passing lanes are an effective way to keep traffic flowing safely as we get our goods to market.”

Upgrades to Highway 7 include the completion of eight new passing lanes between Fiske and Kindersley in the western part of the province. Last year, four passing lanes were built between Rosetown and Fiske. More than $120 million in highway safety improvements have been made between Saskatoon and Kindersley since 2014.

Nine of 10 passing lanes have opened on Highway 39 between Estevan and Weyburn. The $78 million safety improvement project includes another two of four sets of passing lanes, which opened north of Weyburn earlier this fall.

Six additional sets of passing lanes on Highways 9 and 10, around Yorkton, opened in the fall. The $39.4 million project also included intersection improvements, access consolidation and 55 km of paving on Highways 9 and 10.

More than 1,030 km of improvements have been made this construction season including about 329 km of upgrades and repaving, as well as more than 705 km of seals and medium treatments which improve the surface and keep water out. In addition, 14 bridge projects and 112 culverts have been completed with more to be delivered over the winter.

“Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry and its partners developed effective protocols that allowed contractors, consultants and staff to safely complete one of the most successful construction seasons in recent memory,” Hargrave said. “While many projects have wrapped up, work continues year-round. Our government will continue to make investments that support the livelihoods of Saskatchewan people as we prepare for the 2021 construction season.”

PHOTO: Passing lanes construction, like this work north of Yorkton late in the summer, were the focus of much road construction this year. Photo by Brian Zinchuk