Residents of Weyburn and anyone travelling to or through the city on Highways 39 or 13 are now familiar with the construction happening at the intersection of the two highways on the western outskirts of the city. A roundabout for the intersection is currently being built, and there is also an expansion of the twinning of Highway 39 for another four kilometres northwest of Weyburn.
The work has one major goal, explained Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways, David Marit: to improve safety and manage increasing traffic volumes along one of the busiest corridors in the province.
The work that has been done on Highway 39, from the intersection with Highway 6 all the way to the American border, has been ongoing for a number of years, with some twinning being done by Milestone, the construction of a bypass around Estevan, and the buildout of passing lanes.
“When you get down into that corner of the province, you not only have agriculture, but you have oil and gas as well,” Marit stated. “Plus, we have the coal mining as well, which takes a lot of commuters back and forth to work.”
The construction of the passing lanes, which took place in the years leading up to the new decade and slightly beyond, was the start of a larger, long-term plan for the entire Highway 39 corridor. The roundabout construction is part of that overall plan.
“The truck volume is increasing on the 39 Highway,” Marit said. “That's why I think the importance of the passing lane has really, really improved the safety factor of the 39 Highway.”
Highway 39 was originally planned for twinning for the entire length from the junction with Highway 6 to the US border, but budgetary concerns for a project of that scope resulted in the scaling back of the plan. The passing lanes were the first part of the new plan, with the roundabout and expansion of the twinning of a few sections becoming the priority.
The work also has another constraint which has made for some interesting planning, particularly when it comes to the roundabout. One of the main arteries of the CPKC rail network runs adjacent to the highway. It connects western Canada with the American portion of the network. This means the closure of crossings that are deemed unsafe or that don’t meet minimum standards, such as the crossing at Queen Street in Weyburn.
Marit also reminded motorists to be aware of the work zones that are in place and to follow the rules and posted signage, including the reduced speed limits.