REGINA, Sask. — Following numerous reports this year of semis and other large vehicles striking overpasses in the province, most notably in Saskatoon, Highways Minister Kim Gartner was pressed by reporters this week about how the province is addressing the situation.
The questions came after another overpass collision on Oct. 14, when a semi struck the Idylwyld Drive overpass at Ruth Street and Lorne Avenue in Saskatoon.
It was the ninth overpass strike in the province this year and the seventh in Saskatoon alone, but the province says it has been taking action in response.
Gartner said provincial highways crews have been busy measuring every structure on Saskatchewan's highways.
“What we've done initially, we've gone out and we've measured every structure that we have for height and made sure that our signage is correct,” he told reporters Thursday at the legislature.
He said the ministry's physical inspections found no incorrect signage and confirmed that signs were properly posted to reflect the bridges' heights. Signage is also in place on all provincial structures.
Gartner said the ministry is also “reviewing our permitting processes to make sure that they're being accurately followed.” It is also “undertaking a multi-ministerial approach to the legislation review to make sure that, see if there's anything in there that we can put into place that can assist and help the situation.”
As for what further measures could be put in place, Gartner said the province is still reviewing its options. “You know, I wish I could tell you that we have all the answers, but that work is being undertaken.”
Gartner also discussed where the collisions have occurred across the province.
“Out of the nine hits, one of them was on one of our structures, seven in the City of Saskatoon. So we're doing, you know, in consultation with City of Saskatoon, City of Regina, anyone that has structures like that, to see if our permitting systems need to align a little bit better, and that works under the law.”
He noted that the national standard is currently 4.1 metres. “We've set our new standard to 5.3, which is well in excess of the national standard,” said Gartner.
He said provincial highway structures generally meet the new standard, although he noted there might be one structure that “still needs some further work to do.”
As for improvements to accommodate oversized vehicles, Gartner pointed to an example of what is being done at the Highway 1 and 2 interchange in Moose Jaw.
“We've gone to the new diamond design, which allows truckers, if they've got the permit to come through, they go up the off-ramp and go down the on-ramp. They don't actually have to go underneath the structure, so that's one type of improvement that we've undertaken.”
Asked how concerned the government is about the frequency of overpass strikes, Gartner called it “very concerning” and said it is an issue across the country.
“And we've been having discussions with our federal counterparts, but also with counterparts across other provinces, to see if we can come up with something that is on the national level that will help address on the national system.”
When asked why the strikes are happening, Gartner said each incident is a little different.
“Some of them end up being driver responsibility not being followed, measuring heights, following the permitted route. Others are, you know, drivers coming through that may not understand the route that they've taken, and the permit that they've got. But, you know, every situation is different.”
Gartner was also asked whether overpass or structure heights could be incorporated into the Highway Hotline app.
“We can certainly look at that. You know, if you make the app too non-user-friendly, it tends to maybe not get used as much, and we've got great uptake with the Highway Hotline app. And we want drivers to make sure that they're visiting that before they head out.”
