Trans Canada is getting a facelift after last years flooding

Some areas of Highway 1 damaged by last years flooding are going to be fully repaired this summer.

But part of the overhaul will mean reducing 4 lane highways in some areas, to two-lane travel as early as Monday.

This translates to around 3km of highway just west of Maple Creek, the same area under construction last summer.

“The repairs that were done last year, it’s similar this year,” said Dan Palmer, Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure. “Now we’re working on the other side of the highway.”

Drivers can expect to reduce their speed to 60km/hr in the affected portions.

But the government is hoping the impact on motorists will be low.

“We appreciate the patience of motorists while two-lane service is in effect,” said Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter. “But this will make the job easier, safer and more efficient for contracts doing the final repair work.”

Back in 2010, several meters of the Trans-Canada were destroyed by rising flood waters. Once the water began to recede, temporary repairs were made to the highway.

The work this summer will be the final, permanent repairs to the roadway.

Motorists can expect delays until fall 2011.

In the Queen City, construction is on-going on the Highway 1 and Lewvan Drive interchange and as of June 4, Trans-Canada westbound traffic heading north onto Lewvan has been detoured to a new temporary intersection.

Motorists wishing to turn east onto Highway 1 are also being detoured, this time down Gordon Road to Albert Street, then back onto the highway.

The estimated completion time of this project is late 2011.