The Government of Saskatchewan is releasing $300 million in new highways projects to boost the Saskatchewan economy while improving safety and capacity. These projects are part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.5 billion two-year capital plan to build a strong Saskatchewan and stimulate Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.
“Infrastructure investments are important for growth, quality of life, and safe transportation,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “This stimulus package will provide an economic boost creating jobs and building priority infrastructure projects which will serve the citizens of the province for decades to come.”
The $300 million in highways stimulus funds will be invested over the next two years as we work to quickly re-start the Saskatchewan economy. These projects will include thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
Highlights include:
• Upgrades to 325 km of thin-membrane surface highways;
• 24 to 26 new sets of highway passing lanes;
• Rehabilitation of at least 100 RM roads when combined with the existing municipal roads program; and
• Improvements to at least 15 community airports.
“Provincial road builders generate more than $5 billion in provincial GDP out of an economy of $73 billion or roughly seven per cent of the total provincial economy,” Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association President Shantel Lipp said. “We employ close to 30,000 workers, making our industry one of the largest employers in the province. We welcome any move toward maintaining and eventually growing these job numbers to get our economy on track.”
These stimulus investments are on top of $358 million in capital projects already committed in this year’s Estimates including nine sets of passing lanes and resurfacing and widening on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and the Canada-U.S. border.
This year’s fiscal plan also includes improvements to more than 1,000 km of provincial highways this year, which is the first year of the 10-year Growth Plan to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways.
