The Editor:
I'm writing today to outline our government's position on twinning and passing lanes. After recently meeting with the Time to Twin committee, I felt our position should be made clear.
This year we will finalize the twinning of Highway 11 between Prince Albert and Saskatoon. As construction concludes, we have begun a process of evaluating other highways for twinning. Our government, as we have demonstrated in the past, will choose projects based on need, traffic volume, and safety considerations.
For a highway to be considered for twinning, traffic volumes typically have to exceed 5,000 vehicles per day. Two of our busiest highways are 7 and 16; compare those traffic counts to 6 and 39:
Highway 6 from Regina to the Junction of Highway 39 averages 4,130 vehicles per day.
Highway 39 from the Junction of Highway 6 to the U.S. Border averages 3,610 vehicles per day.
Highway 7 from Saskatoon to Delisle averages 6,690 vehicles per day.
Highway 16 from Saskatoon to Clavet averages 8,610 vehicles per day.
There is a section of Highway 39 near Estevan that may warrant further consideration. Heading east out of Estevan there is an 11 kilometre section that averages 6,980 vehicles per day before dividing into more manageable traffic levels at the junction of 18 and 39.
I've also been asked if recent heavy truck traffic increases warrant twinning of Highways 6 and 39; again, both Highways 16 and 7 average higher heavy truck traffic counts.
Collisions and fatalities are also a significant factor in determining priority. To give you an idea of some of the pressures our highways face, compare the following numbers over the last five years (2008-2012):
Highway 6: 92 collisions and six deaths
Highway 39: 519 collisions and 13 deaths
Highway 7: 876 collisions and 23 deaths
Highway 16: 1,004 collisions and 19 deaths
Lastly, we have to consider the costs of twinning highways. Despite spending a record $3.7 billion on highways over the past six years, we continue to experience unprecedented demand for infrastructure. In order to meet this demand I have instructed Highways and Infrastructure to explore cost-effective solutions. One option may be passing lanes. If this year's current pilot project proves to be successful, our government will contemplate passing lanes in other corridors.
It is crucial that we prioritize projects in order to best serve the needs of the province as a whole; it is a principle that our government has stood by in the past, and will continue to abide by in the future.
Don McMorris,
Minister, Highways and Infrastructure
