While there is uncertainty about the twinning plans for Highways 39 and 6 between Estevan and Regina, the future of Highway 39 east of Estevan is more secure.
Work has started on the twinning of Highway 39 from Estevan to an area south of the junction for Highways 39 and 18. The nine-kilometre stretch is one of the busiest in the province that doesn’t have double lanes, as there are as many as 8,050 vehicles per day, according to the 2014 traffic volume map released by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways.
The new lanes are being constructed to the south of the present highway.
“Much of what is going on right now is preparatory work, for example the contractors are stripping topsoil and also doing some crushing work,” said Doug Wakabayashi, the executive director for communications and public relations with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.
“It’ll be a little bit before work starts going in earnest, because there are some things that have to happen, like utility moves and things like that.”
There haven’t been any problems encountered so far in the early stages. Grading will pick up as the year goes along.
“With twinning work, typically the way we do it is, we do the earthwork and the grading in one year, and then the surfacing work the following year,” said Wakabayashi.
He is hopeful the second set of lanes can be open in late 2017.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways announced in 2013 they would be twinning Highway 39 east of Estevan. Since then, they have been acquiring land and hosting meetings to plan for the project.
As for Highways 39 and 6, Wakabayashi said planning is still ongoing. The provincial government revealed in its budget on June 1, that they were now looking at passing lanes for the 200-kilometre portion of highway, despite previous concerns from Estevan-area residents that passing lanes would not enhance safety on the highways.
The Time to Twin committee, a group of local residents who have been lobbying the government about Highways 39 and 6 since 2009, has criticized the concept of passing lanes in the past.
Wakabayashi noted they still plan to twin the entire stretch eventually.
“There are some complexities in the planning, plus we also have to put some thought into a phasing strategy and how the work will be delivered,” said Wakabayashi.
Some sections, such as lower-traffic areas, could have passing lanes as an interim option.
