The Provincial Government is investing $28 million to improve rural roads in Saskatchewan Rural Municipalities (RMs). Thirty-six RMs will receive funding this year, which will cover up to 50 per cent of total project costs to a maximum of $500,000.
In the Weyburn region, this includes the RMs of Griffin, Tecumseh and Brock.
Griffin will be doing clay capping on the correction line, and will receive $494,000 in funding for this project.
In Tecumseh, the RM is doing a project, clay capping, on Township Road 70, and will receive $500,000 in funding. For the RM of Brock, they are doing the base and sub-base on a primary weight corridor, 604, and will receive $500,000 in funding.
This is the first year of a three-year plan with Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) to improve 100 rural roads through the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth Program (RIRG).
“Our government is investing in infrastructure that keeps our rural economies growing and improves safety,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “This program supports rural infrastructure in addition to assisting with the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to helping RMs address their infrastructure challenges, the RIRG Program also supports agriculture, energy, forestry and other rural-based sectors.
“Many rural areas are in dire need of investments to help alleviate the stress on their current infrastructure,” SARM President Ray Orb said. “The provincial program helps support the cost of constructing and upgrading municipal roads, bridges and culverts in rural Saskatchewan.”
Formerly known as the Municipal Roads for the Economy Program, the RIRG will continue to assist RMs with the costs of constructing and upgrading municipal roads, bridges and culverts to support growth. One of the changes is allowing RMs to complete construction projects over two years.-
Some rural road projects have been approved already, so work can begin this construction season. A second intake for additional projects will begin soon.
