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The Ministry of Highways held a press conference in Swift Current, discussing investments into the local highway infrastructure.
During the meeting, it was announced that more than $53 million has been invested in southwest Saskatchewan highway projects. Of that total, $12.2 million has gone into the maintenance and upgrading of 25 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Swift Current. This also includes five culverts to the west of Swift Current, near Waldeck, as well as paving work out towards Herbert.
Speaking at the meeting were MLA Doug Steele, MLA Everett Hindley, and the CEO of the Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce, Corla Rokochy. They were joined by members from the City of Swift Current, the RM of Swift Current, and various stakeholders and representatives from other RMs and municipalities. MLA and Minister of Highways, David Marit, was unable to attend the meeting.
"The projects are a snapshot of our provincial government's ongoing commitment and investment to maintain, improve, and upgrade our highways," said Marit in an official release.
Also on the Trans-Canada Highway, a 95-kilometre stretch of micro-surface work is set to begin in mid-August east of Swift Current. This work is budgeted for $4.5 million and should be finished before winter.
For southwest Saskatchewan as a whole, roughly $14 million will have been spent on daily road maintenance from spring to fall. The official release cited the shoulder work on Highway 37 from Shaunavon to the Highway 18 junction as an example of the kind of work included in this amount.
The meeting also spoke about the economic benefits of maintaining roadways. Not only does good highway infrastructure allow for the transportation of goods and services, but it also provides a trickle-down effect as local contractors are most often hired to complete the paving projects.
Rokochy was able to express gratitude for the work done in and around Swift Current, as it benefits the chamber membership. She was able to confirm that, as far as future highway development and projects, she has heard expressed interest in a potential overpass on Highway 4, allowing for better traffic flow over the train tracks.
"It is something that is mentioned by many, many residents and many businesses and would assist in the flow of traffic and people," said Rokochy. "But it's something that's going to have to be studied and have a plan brought forth, with a lot of different stakeholders coming together to make it happen."
Hindley also says that this is a project that requires a lot of complex planning. The issue would require cooperation from all three government levels: federal, provincial, and municipal.
"It is a priority for us to make sure that when we are looking at where we do invest next, when it comes to provincial highways and infrastructure, we ask 'Where does Highway 4 fit into that?'," said Hindley. "I think the MLAs in the area, whether it's myself, Minister Merritt, MLA Steele, MLA Reiter, MLA McLeod, or anywhere further north of here that are surrounded by Highway 4, that they be advocating for that work."
The conference concluded by stating the government of Saskatchewan is committed to continually investing in and maintaining highway infrastructure in not only southwest Saskatchewan, but the province as a whole.