REGINA — Construction activity is in full swing in all regions of Saskatchewan, as the Ministry of Highways launches its biweekly construction updates of activities impacting roads throughout the province.
At a media event at the Highway Hotline command centre in Regina, Highways Minister Kim Gartner urged motorists to plan their route and check the Highway Hotline for information on construction going on.
“Some of the construction and maintenance work currently on Highway Hotline includes grading and twinning of Highway 2 north of Prince Albert, grading and paving on Highway 2 from Cudworth to Wakaw, and twinning of Highway 5 east of Saskatoon, as well as passing lanes on Highway 10 between Melville and Fort Qu’Appelle and Highway 17 north of Lloydminster,” Gartner said. “We're doing grading and paving on Highway 302 east of Prince Albert.”
He also pointed to bridge work continuing in various areas, “including Highway 7 west of Saskatoon, Highway 18 west of Carievale, Highway 1 just outside of Moose Jaw, and Highway 903 and 935 in the north. All of these bridges are in various stages of rebuild or refurbishment.”
He reminded drivers to obey all signage and flag persons.
“We want everyone to get home safely and to check the Highway Hotline for updates before heading out. Tap the Highway Hotline app, plan your route, and go to your destination, giving yourself enough time to arrive safely. Tap, plan, go. We recognize more work remains on the roads ahead but if we're patient while this work is occurring, we can make Saskatchewan stronger and safer for decades to come.”
Lani Erring, manager of the Highway Hotline and emergency management officer for the Ministry of Highways, spoke of the high usage of the Highway Hotline feature. She reported that last year, between the website and mobile application, “we had 60 million hits for the fiscal year.”
She noted that while Highway Hotline is best known as a winter driving application tool, it offers important information year-round and has important information during the spring and summer months on road and bridge construction, highway closures, incidents and ferry availability that may cause delays in travel.
“Construction work that is posted on the Highway Hotline includes work being done by contractors and highway maintenance crews,” Erring said. “The majority of road work will be shown on the Highway Hotline. However, maintenance work that does not require a signed plan such as filling potholes or removing debris will not be posted on the Highway Hotline. Information may include detours, lane restrictions, wait times, fresh oil, loose stones, project start and end dates, and much more information if required.”
She said the Highway Hotline team “works with ministry project managers, contractors, maintenance crews to ensure we have the most up-to-date information posted to assist the travelling public.”
The government is investing $764 million in highways funding in the 2026 budget, with improvements happening to 820 kilometres of highway in the province.
As for specifics on the construction now underway, Gartner indicated there is not a firm timeline for completion of the passing lanes on Highway 10.
“I wish I could give you one. I know football season's on and everybody's anxious to get them done but having them done safely and done correctly is most important.”
He also urged people to be cautious in the construction zone just north of Regina on Highway 11.
“You're down to one lane coming into there. And it's one-way traffic crossing each other. So what we're asking people to do is be safe. Really slow down through there. Be cautious. Don't watch the work that's going on. Watch the road ahead of you.”
It has been a remarkably wet spring and summer so far, including some flooding incidents. Gartner acknowledged it has “slowed up some of the construction season to start off with but we will make the time up. We'll adjust as we go forward.”
He also spoke about the incident during this spring’s flooding where the Smoothstone River bridge on Highway 165 washed out.
“We brought in a temporary bridge that's a 60-metre-long bridge, so it's not a small structure. Brought it in, and now we will shift and adjust to get that contract out to get that replacement done.”
As for the ongoing forecasts of rainy conditions in the province, Gartner asked drivers to “drive to the current road conditions.”
“Getting to your destination as safely as should be your number one priority and you're not only protecting yourself but you're protecting all the other travelling public as well.”
