REGINA – If re-elected to office, Brad Wall and the Sask. Party promise to invest more money into highways around the province for the next three years.
The three-year, $70 million surge in highway repair and maintenance was part of a new ‘Highways 2020’ plan announced by Wall on Thursday.
“I spend a lot of time driving on Saskatchewan highways so I know a lot have been fixed, but I also know a lot still need to be fixed,” Wall said.
“That’s why the Saskatchewan Party will increase the highway repair and maintenance budget by $30 million this year and $20 million in each of the next two years for a total of $70 million over the next three years. That’s a 20 per cent increase in 2016-17.”
Full Coverage: Saskatchewan Election 2016
Under the Highway 2020 plan, a re-elected Sask. Party government will invest $2.7 billion in highways and transportation infrastructure over the next four years. This will be in addition to the funding for construction of the new Regina Bypass.
Wall added the $70 million increase in highway repair funding will be the largest new spending commitment in the Sask. Party’s platform.
“For many years, the NDP wasn’t even putting all of the fuel tax collected back into highways, leaving Saskatchewan with a billion dollar pothole in highway maintenance,” Wall said.
“Every year, our government invests all of the fuel tax and more into highway construction and repair. Let’s never go back to the way it was under the NDP.”
Wall added that the new highway funding will have added benefit of creating economic activity and jobs during the downturn in the oil sector.
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