EAST CENTRAL — Construction on Highway 5 improvements has ended for the year.
On Nov. 3 the ministry said construction has ended for the season prior to completion due to the onset of cold weather, with temporary surfacing in place for approximately three kilometres.
Greg Ottenbreit, the highways minister, said it’s a three-phase project.
“Right now we're doing the centre section where [there are] some of the more hazardous areas, with narrow roadway and quite large elevation changes. They're doing a pretty good job of increasing sight lines, widening the road and passing lanes in that central section.”
That includes shaving down some of the hills and improving slopes away from the highway. That stretch had numerous small rises that make it difficult to see far enough to pass.
“The next phase will be closer to Humboldt, as you get into Humboldt, to finish the passing lane section in there,” Ottenbreit said. “Then the year after, the final phase will be the section from the centre section over to Saskatoon, which will include some twinning when you get closer to Saskatoon. So, I believe it'll be 2022 by the time that last section is done.”
The minister noted anybody who drove that highway realized it was a very busy highway and needed some work to be done. But while the Highway 5 project is underway, there can be delays of 20 to 30-minute delays during construction. The Ministry has suggested alternative routes.
