$57 million in Sask highway twinning kicks off

REGINA — Saskatchewan has begun twinning Hwy. 11 between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, as well as Hwy. 1 East and Hwy. 16 West.

The $57 million in highway projects this year will increase safety for motorists, Highways and Transportation Minister Eldon Lautermilch said in a press release. “In addition, twinning will improve the province’s busiest highways to support tourism and economic development, and move our export goods to market efficiently across inter-provincial borders.”

On Highway 11, work is now underway on 9 km of grading on new lanes from north of Warman to north of Osler in preparation for future surfacing. Work on the next 9 km of new lanes from Rheinland toward Hague will begin in September.

In addition, survey crews are currently undertaking field work from south of Hague to Rosthern, and doing preliminary planning from Prince Albert south, for future twinning on Highway 11.

On Highway 1 East, surfacing new lanes will take place from 3.4 km west of Whitewood to 3.7 km east of Wapella. This includes sections where both lanes will be newly constructed, for a total of 40 lane kilometres. The new lanes will be opened, weather permitting, in fall
2006, says the department.

Work on Highway 16 is now underway, and is expected to be completed this fall. It includes grading and surfacing on the westbound lanes from 10 km west of the Paynton access to 7.1 km east of Maidstone; and on the both the westbound and eastbound lanes from 7.1 km east of Maidstone to 3.8 km west of Maidstone, commonly known as the Maidstone bypass, for a total of 29.6 lane kilometres.

The department is reminding drivers to slow to 60 km per hour when passing highway workers and equipment in the construction Orange Zone.