REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP are not happy about the proposed Regina Bypass costs and are proposing what they call a more efficient route.
Saying costs are skyrocketing to almost $2 billion, the NDP is calling for a short pause on the bypass route. They would also like to see traffic lights installed immediately as a temporary solution to the problem.
“Families, drivers and taxpayers are concerned about the Sask. Party’s growing bypass disaster. We need a bypass built around our capital city, but we need it built it right, in the right location and for the best price,” said NDP deputy leader Trent Wotherspoon.
READ MORE: Regina bypass costs pegged at $1.88 billion
“The bypass was originally given a $400 million price tag. Then it was $800 million. It jumped to $1.2 billion … then the price tag jumped again to a whopping $1.9 billion,” Wotherspoon said. “But that price tag isn’t even final because it doesn’t include the price of the land. So this project will cost taxpayers well over $2 billion for a bypass that won’t even bypass the city and won’t divert much of the traffic.”
In addition to traffic lights, the NDP want to immediately build overpasses at high-risk intersections, rather than wait until the project is complete in 2019.
Wotherspoon also wants to re-examine the location – something the ‘Why Tower Road?‘ group has been fighting to do for more than a year.
Rather than a route south of the city, their proposal goes north instead – eventually connecting with Highway 46 to the east and meeting the Trans-Canada at Balgonie.
“The majority of trucks are still going to come into the city even after they put in the new bypass on Tower Road,” said group spokesperson Allen Mryglod.
Deadly stretch of highway
The corridor between Regina and Balgonie has claimed more than a dozen lives in recent years, which is one reason why any move to build overpasses sooner would seem more attractive.
But White City Mayor Bruce Evans says the planning should be “left to the experts,” fearing any pause at all could take the bypass project off the road entirely.
“It’s not just monetary, it’s not just an inconvenience. There are people’s lives at risk every time we delay.”
Comments