Saskatchewan's Highway Hotline is now reporting new and up to date road conditions from a group of motorists who drive the highways most - commercial truckers.
"We're excited to have this new pilot project up and running with a Saskatchewan trucking firm that is dedicated to providing valuable information to Highway Hotline users," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "It's a new way to enhance service and provide better information for all motorists."
Saskatoon-based Ridsdale Transport Ltd. has partnered with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to provide road condition information on 12 of their Saskatchewan routes, between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Conditions will be reported on Highway 1 between Swift Current and the Manitoba border, Highway 6 between Regina and Melfort, Highway 10 between Regina and Yorkton, Highway 11 between Regina and Saskatoon, Highway 16 between Saskatoon and Lloydminster, and Highway 41 between Saskatoon and Melfort.
"Our drivers and our company are on board with this project because it's simple, it makes sense, and provides an important public service to our fellow motorists," Ridsdale Transport Ltd. Director of Operations Wayne Kowalyshyn said.
Ridsdale's drivers will call in road conditions when they are at a terminal, switch point, or other normal stop along their route, or more often in extreme weather as road conditions warrant. All calls will be made to their regular dispatcher who will send a report to the Highway Hotline office, which is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the winter months. The new report will appear in green on the regular Highway Hotline text report, found at http://hotline.gov.sk.ca/textreport.html.
"The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) is very supportive of any initiative to make our highways safer," STA Executive Director Al Rosseker said. "We are pleased Ridsdale Transport and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure were able to come together to make it happen."
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