EAST CENTRAL — Highway 16 between Clavet to the Highway 6 junction near Dafoe will see new passing lanes built as part of the province’s $300 million highway stimulus package.
Greg Ottenbreit, the provincial highways minister, said doing that project was common sense.
“[Highway] 16 was always on the list being looked at,” he said. “This is the opportunity we have now to put that project forward, to do the planning and initial work over the next year, and then complete the year after.”
The province is looking at building six or seven sets of passing lanes on the highway over the next two years. The number and locations of the lanes will be determined during the initial design work.
Ottenbreit said the highway corridor is seeing more significant traffic, with the potash mines, agriculture, industrial development and delivery of goods for export to Prince Rupert, B.C.
“As we look farther towards the Manitoba border at this point, the traffic flows don't warrant a full twinning project, but specifically passing lanes are warranted.”
Ottenbreit said based on his ministry’s safety numbers, passing lanes should improve safety by up to 80 per cent, making it a cost-effective option.
There are also plans for more passing lanes from Springside to the Manitoba border.
Highway 761 between LeRoy and LeRoy Leisureland will also see upgrades due to the highway stimulus package
“That section of 761 is a capital upgrading partnership on that road with the RM [of LeRoy],” Ottenbreit said. “We're working on the details of that agreement with the RM at this point. It will be a repaving job, a thin membrane upgrade.”
The minister said the initial planning stages for that project are expected to be done this year.
As for the already announced Highway 5 passing lane project between Saskatoon and Highway 2, Ottenbreit said the $300 million highway stimulus package will not affect the timelines to complete that project. It is expected to be done over three phases and be complete by the fall of 2025.
