Project will improve traffic safety says reeve
Uko Akpanuko
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Daily Herald
The Ministry of Highways provided an update on a partnership with the Rural Municipality (RM) of Prince Albert to share the cost of paving the service road between Elevator Road and the junction of Highways 2 and 11.
The service road will act as a truck route, reducing traffic crossing the median at the intersection of Highway 2 and Elevator Road.
In an email to the Daily Herald, RM of Prince Albert Reeve Tyrel Tait wrote that the road will act as a heavy haul route, improving safety at the intersection. He said they’re expecting an increase in heavy haul traffic, and this roadwork will allow for safer re-entry onto the highway.
“Nearly all the commercial slots are sold, and we feel this will help to support future growth in the RM,” Tait wrote. “We have partnered with the provincial government in the past on the project of the north service road (re: surfacing) to help support commercial businesses along this route.”
The agreement between the RM and the ministry was signed in the spring. Surfacing work will cost an estimated $924,000, with the ministry contributing up to 50 per cent of the cost. The Ministry of Highways will perform all maintenance, except for winter maintenance.
“The Ministry of Highways is continuing to work closely with municipal governments to improve roadways through partnership agreements aimed at providing benefits to local traffic and the economy as a whole,” Highways Minister David Marit said in a press release. “Paving this service road will support both the local and provincial economies by fostering growth and improving safety.”
“We are extremely excited about the partnership with the Ministry of Highways,” Tait added. “We feel we are being proactive by investing in this infrastructure that will significantly reduce heavy haul traffic at a problem intersection.”
Tait wrote that the RM does not have a timeline for when the project will be completed, but they are eager to get started.
“When the highways initiative was presented to us, we were extremely happy and excited to get moving quickly on it,” he wrote.
“This is only one project of many we are undertaking in the RM of Prince albert. We have many other projects this year including 48th street, which is a $400,000 investment as well as many clay capping and road stabilization projects.”
Since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $13.8 billion in transportation infrastructure, improving over 21,800 kilometres of highways across the province.
Motorists are reminded to check the Highway Hotline before heading out at https://hotline.gov.sk.ca/map as Saskatchewan’s provincial road information service provides details about construction zones, ferry crossings, closures and incidents related to wildfires.
–with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
