New Passing Lanes Opening Between Melville and Yorkton
There will be new opportunities to pass safely on Highway 10 between Melville and Yorkton with the opening of three sets of passing lanes this weekend.
“Our government will improve more than 1,000 kilometres (km) of provincial highways this year, which is the first year of our 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “This passing lanes project is an example of how we are investing to improve traffic flow for the safety of our citizens.”
Three additional sets of passing lanes on Highway 9, north of Yorkton, are scheduled for completion this fall. The entire $39.4 million project consists of a total of six sets of passing lanes, intersection improvements, access consolidation and 55 km of paving on Highways 9 and 10.
“Traffic can sometimes be brisk on highways in and out of our city,” Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney said. “We welcome the improvements on Highway 10 and look forward to improvements north of Yorkton in the near future, which will help safely move people and goods.”
During the opening of the passing lanes, there may be an adjustment period and drivers should be cautious as there may still be reduced speeds required for short periods of time.
Passing lane projects continue around the province this year, including Highways 7 and 39. Pre-construction work is also underway on 24 to 26 new sets of passing lanes as part of the government’s stimulus package. Passing lanes can reduce collisions by 25 per cent at 80 per cent less cost than that of twinning.
If you’re planning to travel, check the Highway Hotline at www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline, which provides up-to-date information on construction, emergency road closures, the status of ferries, barges and other road activities. Information is also available by calling 511.
A weekly highway construction update is also published on www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/transportation/highway-construction-projects/weekly-highway-construction-update to provide the travelling public with the latest details on projects underway to help plan safe and efficient travel. You can also report a highway work zone signing problem by calling 306-244-5535.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $9.8 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 15,800 km of Saskatchewan highways. Another $300 million in highways stimulus funds will be invested over the next two years to stimulate Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.