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Pre-construction work is now underway on the largest transportation infrastructure project in Saskatchewan’s history.
Survey work and test drilling began on Monday near Tower Road and Arcola Avenue for the billion-dollar Regina Bypass. As work on the route moves ahead, a group opposing the project is still trying to get its message out.
“I think this is the biggest issue in the province, biggest infrastructure project in the history of Saskatchewan. It’s going to be the biggest mistake that the government’s ever made,” said Nestor Mryglod, who’s part of the Regina Committee for an Alternate Bypass Solution.
The group is still pushing hard to get the province to stop what it’s doing and reconsider where the route is built despite early construction work having already started.
The province has maintained that the route selected will improve safety and efficiency. It also stands behind the fact that input from both the public and interested stakeholders was sought.
Mryglod disputes that. In the past the group has proposed the route be moved further east, closer to Gravel Pit Road. Now, the group believes putting the route north of the city will save taxpayers money and improve the safety of drivers.
“We’re gonna fight til they start pushing dirt and even then we’re not backing down,” he explained. “We will continue to inform the people, we will continue to talk to people and again, it’s never too late to do the right thing.”
Mryglod was in Victoria Park on Saturday during the I Love Regina event interviewing people with a camera and microphone regarding what their stance on the route is. He said they’re working on a video to put on their website. They’ll continue to advertise and they’ll continue to lobby the government he insisted. The group is even considering taking it one step further.
“We’ve actually been inspired to run politically on this matter,” he said, suggesting the group might put forth a candidate to run on this issue in the upcoming provincial election.
The bypass is expected to be finished in the fall of 2019 with approximately 8,200 jobs created during construction.
KMartel@rawlco.com
Follow on Twitter: @KevinMartel
