The location of the new Estevan truck route has been finalized and was presented at a public open house September 14.
"The new truck route is good news for commuters and the local economy," said Ed Komarnicki, Member of Parliament for Souris - Moose Mountain. "The Government of Canada is pleased to be working with the Province of Saskatchewan on this project that will keep people and goods moving in and around the area.
"The Estevan Truck Route will improve traffic flow, enhance safety and generate potential development opportunities in the Estevan area," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. "We've come up with a plan for a bypass that meets current demands and allows the bypass to evolve as traffic volumes and the Estevan area grow."
The selected route runs north of the city from the intersection of Highway 39 and Shand Road to Highway 39 west of the city. The 12 km route will initially be constructed as a two-lane road. The plan for the truck route was developed to allow for twinning and interchanges at the west and east ends and at the junction of Highway 47 as future traffic volumes require.
Preconstruction work, including items like detailed design, utility moves and right-of-way acquisition will start this fall, with on-road construction start during the 2012 construction season. It is expected that construction will take approximately three years to complete.
The cost of the truck route is estimated at $44 million. The Government of Canada is contributing up to $17 million to the project under the Building Canada Fund.
