EAST CENTRAL — The provincial government is holding two come-and-go sessions about the future of Highway 5 between Saskatoon and the intersection of Highway 2.
The first session will be on Aug. 13 at the Manhattan Ballroom, while the second will be Aug. 14 at the St. Denis Community Hall.
“The focus of the information session is to provide information on planned safety improvements for twinning, passing lanes and widening; timelines; and explain the land acquisition process leading up to construction,” the government’s notice said.
Traffic engineers from the highways ministry and Stantec Consulting will be present to listen to comments and answer questions.
Highway 5 goes through hilly country, some portions are narrower than provincial standards – which is 3.7 metres wide for driving lanes and two metres for shoulders, and pools of water encroach the side of the highway at certain locations. That means passing slower vehicles is more dangerous than most highways.
In the provincial budget in April, the government announced it would start the planning process to improve the highway this year, with construction is expected to begin in 2020.
The first session, at the Manhattan Ballroom, located three kilometres east of the Highway 41 junction on Highway 5, starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes until 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 13. The second session, at the St. Denis Community Hall, starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes until 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 14.
