It has been a long-anticipated wait but that has come to an end with the projected start date announced by SNC-Lavalin Inc.
Stimulus Senior Project Manager, Micheal Lam, P.Eng. of SNC- Lavalin Inc. confirmed in a recent email.
“Based on the tentative schedule the contractor provided us, they will be aiming to start work during the last week of August around the 23rd or so.”
Highway 16 is the other cross country route also known as the Yellowhead Highway; it is the alternate highway to the TransCanada Highway that travels from the Manitoba border by Marchwell/Russell through to Yorkton, Saskatoon and out the west side of the province.
Being the alternate route, it has picked up a lot of traffic over the years as people are out on in-country vacations and tours.
The highway is also a major trucking route, leading to the northern cities like Saskatoon and Edmonton.
The Yellowhead Highway through Saskatchewan is a single-lane highway for the most part, which makes it a little slower and a little more dangerous.
The Department of Highways has determined that the best fix for this is to install passing lanes like the ones on Highway 9 heading into Regina.
Last year the Sask. Party announced that the section of highway between the Manitoba border and Yorkton was on the table and being highly considered.
This is finally coming to reality with the expected start date of the project August 23, 2021, at an estimated cost of $10 million.
“This will be dependent upon their crew wrapping up some work on another project without any delay and May possibly change a bit if unexpected circumstances arise,” was Lam’s parting comment.
The plan calls for the building of seven passing lanes between the border and Saltcoats, along with the improvement of one intersection.
When construction begins, drivers can expect minor delays and disruptions that may include one-way traffic through work zones with the reduced speed of 60 KM per hour; also, possible stoppages by flaggers who will be present. Delays are not expected to exceed 20 minutes and traffic information as always will be available through the Highway Hotline.
By: Gary Horseman