EAST CENTRAL — Multiple rural communities across the east central region have received funding for road work including the RMs of Star City, Bjorkdale and Willow Creek.
This comes from the provincial Rural Integrated Roads for Growth program, which is now in its third phase. For the phase, 69 different rural municipalities are receiving a split of $25.7 million in funding for improvements.
The RM of Bjorkdale is receiving $500,000, which will be used to replace a bridge over the Barrier River.
The bridge has been weight restricted to ten tons since 2020.
Cherie Hudon, the RM’s administrator, said that since the weight restriction was added they’ve been receiving complaints.
“We’re very happy to receive this funding, without this funding I’m not sure how long that bridge would be out, probably for quite some time,” Hudon said. “Something of that stature is very expensive to replace.”
The RM is hopeful that work can start within 2021, but a timeline has yet to be set.
The RM of Star City is receiving $500,000, which will be spent on clay capping two different routes.
“With the grid roads they get worn down and then the rocks show through and there’s no clay left on the roads, so what we do is we build it up again with clay,” said Levina Cronk, RM of Star City’s administrator. “So it makes a better drivable surface afterwards. So we need the clay to make the road not so rough.”
One is three-and-a half miles of grid road located directly east of Melfort. The other is four-and-a-half miles directly north of Star City on Grid 681.
Work is expected to begin before the end of the month.
The RM of Willow Creek is receiving $26,000, which will be spent on gravelling and maintaining Grid Road 681 with a grader over the summer. This will allow it to handle primary weight.
