The "Time To Twin" Highway 39 and 6 committee began its work in 2009, and is continuing to urge residents to help them lobby the province to twin the highway in light of continuing fatal accidents on that highway.
The "Time To Twin" Highway 39 and 6 committee began its work in 2009, and is continuing to urge residents to help them lobby the province to twin the highway in light of continuing fatal accidents on that highway.
Since they began their efforts, the average daily traffic counts continue to increase on Highways 39 and 6, drastically.
"The Ministry of Highways has informed us about the traffic counts between Bienfait and Estevan," said Marge Young, co-chair of the committee. In these traffic counts, from June 2011, the average daily count was 790 two tonne and larger trucks; by September 2012 the count jumped to 1,500 two tonne and larger trucks.
"This is a 90-per-cent increase in heavy truck traffic and constitutes an average daily traffic count of 6,900 vehicles," said Young.
She noted many residents of southeast Saskatchewan, who use Highway 39, feel unsafe with good reason due to the increasing number of semis, tractor trailer units and oil tankers. A majority of these large vehicles have no other option but to travel in convoys due to the sheer number of semis there are traveling these highways.
"This winter, there were at least seven fatalities that occurred on southeast highways that involved large vehicles. That means there are seven families' lives that were forever changed this year; by twinning Highway 39 and 6, some of these tragedies could have potentially been prevented," she said. "It's time we take the steps needed to reinvest in the communities that are generating so much revenue for our government."
The oil boom in this area has brought a lot of prosperity to this region and generated a lot of revenue for all different levels of government.
"It's time the governments start providing the safety to the people, families and communities that they serve. We continue to push our Sask. government to use a portion of their highway infrastructure budget to twin Highway 39 and 6, thereby providing a safer highway," said Young. "This does not include 'passing lanes'."
Young explained that in the view of the committee, passing lanes will save money, but not lives.
"Our 'Time To Twin' Committee continues to ask all residents along these highways to write, phone, e-mail, text, Facebook or tweet your local MLAs, Minister of Highways Don McMorris and Premier Brad Wall," said Young, adding that people need to add their own personal experiences to drive the point home.
"Tell them what is happening to you on these highways and how you feel about passing lanes."
