EAST CENTRAL — The provincial highway ministry has awarded a $18.8 million contract for the first phase of the Highway 5 upgrades.
HJR Asphalt of Saskatoon will widen and improve lines of sight for a 10-kilometre stretch from the old Highway 27 to Blucher Road.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring and be completed by fall 2020.
According to the highways ministry, the second segment is a 30-kilometre stretch that goes from the Highway 2 intersection to Blucher Road. It is expected to begin spring 2021. The final segment is a 10-kilometre stretch from the old Highway 27 to where the highway turns into four lanes, is expected to start in spring 2023.
“Highway 5 is a key economic corridor in our province, linking the Saskatoon region with the rest of the country. I have personally driven the highway a number of times over the years, and have experienced the safety challenges that can surface from time to time,” said Greg Ottenbreit, the highways minister, in a media release.
“Whether it be a family driving to hockey practice or farmers moving equipment, I look forward to a more efficient and safer corridor for those in the region.”
