A Saskatoon company has been chosen to complete the first phase of improvements on Highway 5.
The province awarded HJR Asphalt the contract for 10 kilometres between old Highway 27 to Blutcher Road. Work includes widening and sight-line improvements through hills and valleys.
Construction on Phase 1 is scheduled to start this spring and wrap up in the fall with an $18.8-million price tag.
The multi-year project will be done in three phases, according to the province.
Phase 2, set to be carried out between the spring of 2021 and fall of 2022, will run 30 kilometres between Blutcher Road and Highway 2.
It includes passing lanes, shoulder widening, resurfacing, grade-line improvements, intersection realignment and treatment, and culvert replacement.
The final phase will see twinning from the existing section of Highway 5 east of Saskatoon to the old 27 road.
In a media release Tuesday, the province said the entire project is scheduled to be done by 2025.
The Highways and Infrastructure Ministry held information nights last summer to gather feedback on Phase 1, the release said.
The province said it would hold similar sessions before phases 2 and 3.