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Traffic issues of Highways 39 and 6 studied, twinning delayed

Traffic issues on Highways 39 and 6 will continue to be under consideration by the Ministry of Highways, even though a twinning project for the highways was not released in the five-year construction plan.

Traffic issues on Highways 39 and 6 will continue to be under consideration by the Ministry of Highways, even though a twinning project for the highways was not released in the five-year construction plan.It should be no surprise that the twinning project was not on the five-year construction outlook, said Dustin Duncan, MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy. The priority for the government has always been to finish twinning Highway 11, then complete a functional planning studies of other highways in the province.The government will stay on top of addressing safety concerns and alleviate congestion of the two highways. Duncan noted that, The Highways and Infrastructure Minister (Jim Reiter) has met with the Soo Line Coordinate committee, to discuss with them on the issues that need to be addressed.In regard to highway work in other parts of the constituency, Duncan noted that, We have seen work on Highway 39, near McTaggart, to including passing lanes. In addition, included in the five year plan was work for Highway 13 into the heart of the Bakken area, and for Highway 35 at the Port of Oungre that brings traffic into Saskatchewan from the States.So far in their three-year mandate as the provincial government, the Sask. Party has invested over $1.8 billion in highway construction projects.In fact the creation of passing lanes on Highways 39 and 6 in the next couple of years might be undertaken by the government to aid in alleviating congestion on the highways, until the province is ready to undertake a twinning project.Another factor that will come into play is that Highways 39 and 6 do not meet accepted federal traffic volume standards, which is the major statistic the federal government looks at before agreeing to funding support.