YORKTON – Several rural municipalities across east-central Saskatchewan are set to receive funding for road, bridge and culvert improvements through a provincial infrastructure program aimed at strengthening transportation routes in rural areas.
The Ministry of Highways and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) announced more than $46 million in funding for 41 projects across the province under the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth program.
The provincial government is contributing more than $16.9 million, while rural municipalities will provide the remaining more than $29.1 million toward the projects.
Several of the approved projects are located in east-central Saskatchewan.
In the Rural Municipality of Saltcoats No. 213, funding will support clay capping work on Township Road 233. The project has a total value of $879,036, with the province contributing $439,518 and the municipality covering the remaining amount.
The Rural Municipality of Garry No. 245 will receive funding for earthwork and grading along the Cherepuschak Combine Road. The project is valued at $707,600, with the province and the municipality each contributing $353,800.
Another road improvement project is planned in the Rural Municipality of Insinger No. 275, where earthwork and grading work valued at $924,902 will receive a provincial contribution of $462,451.
In the Rural Municipality of Ponass Lake No. 367, a surface strengthening project along Grid Road 756 has been approved with a total value of $407,181.
Further south, the Rural Municipality of North Qu’Appelle No. 187 will see a culvert installation project on Wide Awake Road valued at $500,000.
Bridge construction projects are also included in the region.
The Rural Municipality of Barrier Valley No. 397 has been approved for a bridge project at Barrier Lake valued at just over $2 million. At the same time, the Rural Municipality of Bjorkdale No. 426 will undertake the Utke Bridge construction project, also valued at about $2 million.
Altogether, the east-central Saskatchewan projects total more than $7.4 million in infrastructure work, with roughly half funded through the provincial program and the remainder paid by participating municipalities.
The Rural Integrated Roads for Growth program contributes up to 50 per cent of a project’s cost to a maximum of $500,000 for road improvements and up to $1 million for bridge or large culvert projects.
The program is funded by the Government of Saskatchewan, administered by SARM, and overseen by a joint program management board composed of representatives from both organizations.
