There is still more to do and more public opinion to collect so the Time to Twin committee has decided to remain intact and active. The group will continue to serve notice to the provincial government that the need to provide a safe throughway from North Portal to Regina should be a priority item on their infrastructure agenda.
The co-chairwoman of the committee, Lauralie Ireland, said she had contemplated an exit from the committee work, but a recent close call on Highway 39 involving her family members, has renewed her resolve to see some action taken that will eventually lead to a commitment by the provincial government to provide a four-lane highway along Highway 39 and Highway 6 south of Regina. The highway that links the international port to Estevan, Weyburn and points in between to the capital city, is a vital one that deserves more attention from politicians as well as the business communities it serves, said Marge Young, the woman who shares the chair's duties.
The two women have been at the forefront of the bid to see this highway expanded to accommodate current and anticipated growth in traffic volume.
They said following an informal meeting on March 3, they might be ready to call for some more meaningful input from the general population by arranging a public forum. They said they'll be testing the waters to see if there is enough interest from the local businesses and general motoring public in pursuing the subject more aggressively.
"If there isn't a whole lot of interest from the public regarding this highway, it's time we found out," said Young.
In the meantime, the two said they are prepared to conduct a spring or summer traffic count along Highways 39 and 47 (north from Estevan) as they did two summers ago.
The two had also conducted a mini petition drive among southeast Saskatchewan trucking and oil companies, service stations and restaurants, gaining information and opinions regarding the twinning prospects.
"We heard from all of them that they would definitely appreciate a twinned highway for obvious reasons, and we also heard that they were very busy and didn't have a lot of time to pick up the lobbying banners or spend time writing letters to politicians," Young added.
A binder containing petition information, traffic counts, opinions and evidence-based episodes from truckers had been handed over to former highways and infrastructure minister Jim Reiter with the request that he turn the information over to current minister Don McMorris.
"I wonder if he has it, and if he has, I wonder if he's even looked at it," said Young with a smile.
"We also heard that our MLA Doreen Eagles informed a former Estevan resident this past summer that in her opinion Highway 39 and Highway 6 would never be twinned in her lifetime. I found that very discouraging," said Young. "I thought she would be behind the effort."
Young and Ireland said the flood waters in 2011 that destroyed parts of the highway for a number of weeks, allowed them a short hiatus from committee work but now with continued growth in the oil patch, big construction projects underway at Boundary Dam in connection with the $1.3 billion clean coal project and the start of a major $90 million commodities hub at Northgate, the need to provide a major highway link is becoming self evident.
"Have we done enough writing, pushing, alarm raising?" asked Ireland. "Is it time to decide whether we should go to the public or shut it down? Personally I don't want to give the politicians the pleasure of seeing us go away. I'm sure they'd like to have that. I also realize people are probably reluctant to come forward and be heard."
Ireland said she and Young have not heard from Eagles concerning their latest request to have a meeting with the new highways minister in their effort to keep the file open and active.
The two women said they realize the government has to set their sights on a number of priority items in the next couple of budgets and highways such as No's 7 and 16 are also on the radar now that Highway 11 up to Prince Albert is near completion, but the sheer volume and size of the vehicles plying up and down Highway 39 and 6 dwarfs the other four-lane contenders.
"We've been pushing this agenda since 2009 and we're at a crossroads," said Young.
"I guess we're asking for a little input now. Do the people in southeast Saskatchewan want a public meeting about this issue? Do they care? It's time to find out."
Young said the committee may be contacted through e-mail at timetotwin@gmail.com or through regular postal service Time to Twin, 1916 Dyer Road S4A 1Z5 or by contacting them at 306 634-3856 and leaving a message.
