Watch above: Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped in Saskatoon Thursday support a highway twinning project to the tune of $32 million. Wendy Winiewski takes a look at why the focus is on this particular corridor.
SASKATOON – Plans to twin Highway 7 from Saskatoon to Delisle have taken another step forward. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Saskatoon on Thursday to announce the federal government will provide funding for the project.
Harper said the feds will fund half the eligible costs for the 25 kilometre project, up to a maximum of $32 million.
“Highway 7 is an important route for Saskatchewan that connects our largest city to growing communities like Delisle, Rosetown and Kindersley, as well as to export markets,” said Premier Brad Wall, who was on hand for the announcement.
“Twinning will address the safety and congestion concerns that are a result of Saskatchewan’s remarkable economic and population growth.”
Traffic between Delisle and Saskatoon has increased by 50 per cent in the past decade.
Work is expected to start this spring with grading between Saskatoon to just east of Vanscoy. The province is still working on route options with the community.
The twinning could be completed as early as the fall of 2018.
The project was first announced in Saskatchewan’s 2014-15 budget.
The twinning is in addition to four passing lanes being added on the highway between Delisle and Rosetown. The first of those opened last October.
READ MORE: First set of passing lanes open on Highway 7
Between 2010 and 2013, there were 436 collisions resulting in three deaths on that stretch of highway, according to statistics from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI).
Watch below: Wendy Winiewski filed this report on July 11, 2013 on what can be done to improve safety on Highway 7
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