Investment paves way for highway construction projects in Sask.

Work crews once again will be heading down Saskatchewan highways this year.

The provincial government announced Thursday that 16 highway construction projects worth more than $130 million recently were awarded, with work expected to be completed in the fall.

The projects include upgrades to thin-membrane surface (TMS) highways as well as the creation of passing lanes.

According to the government, the TMS upgrades will be done on roads including:

• Highway 43 from Gravelbourg to Highway 19;
• Highway 56 near Katepwa Lake;
• Highway 229 to Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park; and,
• Highway 322 from Glen Harbour to Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park.

Among the passing lanes to be created are those on:

• Highway 2 north of Prince Albert to Highway 263;
• Highway 3 from Prince Albert to Shellbrook;
• Highway 12 from Martensville to Highway 312;
• Highway 14 from Saskatoon to Asquith; and,
• Highway 16 from Clavet to Viscount and from Springside to Saltcoats.

The government said another eight construction projects are in the tendering process, and four more will be tendered later this year.

The work is part of the Ministry of Highways’ $300-million investment over two years to help stimulate the province’s recovery from COVID-19.

The government is aiming to work on more than 1,000 kilometres of the province’s highways in 2021.