Calls for action west of Spruce Home, have not gone unnoticed by the provincial government. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Building better highways

Highway upgrades planned next year north and east of Prince Albert

Oct 17, 2019 | 5:36 PM

With the 2019 highway construction season almost in the rearview mirror, the provincial government has already started looking at next year’s workload.

Among the over 45 planned highway improvement projects, there are two in the immediate Prince Albert area. Steve Shaheen, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Highways, told paNOW a section of Highway 3, southeast of Prince Albert, will be getting smoothed out.

“It’s 26 km of repaving that will start about 10 km east of Prince Albert,” he said.

Also on the agenda for next year is a 17 km stretch of Highway 355, west of Spruce Home toward Sturgeon Lake First Nation. Some resurfacing has been planned for an 18 km stretch of Highway 265 , northwest of Candle Lake.

On Thursday, the provincial government announced the tendering process would begin soon for the 2020 construction season. The estimated value of the work was nearly $260 million.

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“By tendering the projects earlier, the ministry can secure contracts sooner,” Shaheen said.

“Investments into the province’s highways and infrastructure helps support our members, keep the economy strong and enhance driver safety,” Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association President Shantel Lipp said in a statement. “By tendering earlier, our members are in a much better position to plan effectively and get the resources into place that will be required.”

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell