Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
Motorists in Saskatchewan will now have an easier way to see where highway construction is happening and how to avoid delays, with the relaunch of the Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update.
Highways Minister David Marit announced the update will be posted every Friday at 10 a.m., featuring details on new projects, changes to existing work zones and links to view all current construction in the province.
Marit said the move is about making travel safer and helping drivers plan ahead.
“We want the public to know where the orange zones are, so they can plan ahead or if they have to slow down, they can allow for that,” Marit said.
“It’s really an awareness for the driving public to understand what’s going on out there and appreciate the work being done by construction workers and contractors.”
Highways Minister David Marit addresses media at the Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update launch, encouraging drivers to check the Highway Hotline before travelling. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
The update will be available through the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline website and app, showing the project’s location, start date and estimated completion date.
Marit said it’s especially important in Saskatchewan’s short construction season, when most highway work must be completed in the summer months.
“Even if you don’t see anybody there, there’s a reason those signs are still up; it could be a sharp drop-off, equipment moving, or other hazards in the area,” Marit said.
“We just want to bring awareness to the driving public to please slow down through those zones.”
Read more:
- Most highway work between Saskatoon and Humboldt expected to wrap up this year
- Regina man on trial for orange zone death of highway worker
- Traffic reopened on Ring Road and Albert St. South after semi rollover
Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association President Shantel Lipp said the weekly update will also be a valuable planning tool for truckers and the commercial hauling industry.
“Having the app available and having people be able to be constantly updated, checking on the status of the work and where it’s going, is going to be extremely helpful, not just for the travelling public, but for the trucking community as well,” Lipp said.
Lipp also reminded drivers that delays through construction zones are often shorter than they think.
“We’ve mapped out one of our longest construction zones — 20 kilometres — and the delay was just three to six minutes,” Lipp said. “Your patience could save a life.”
Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association president Shantel Lipp speaks at the launch of the Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update, urging drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
The Orange Zone program is not new.
The province first introduced a weekly construction update after the 2012 death of Ashley Richards. Richards was an 18-year-old flagger who was struck and killed by a speeding SUV near Midale on her second day on the job. The driver was travelling above the posted 60 km/h limit in a marked work zone.
Richards’ death sparked sweeping safety reforms in Saskatchewan, including extending 60 km/hr zone limits to the entire work zone, tripling fines for speeding in construction areas and adding more visible signage.
August 8 update
Fillmore
On-road work has begun on a $13.3 million project to re-pave nearly 19 km of Highway 33 near Fillmore. “Drivers are advised to reduce speed and follow a pilot vehicle through the work zone,” it said in a statement.
Weyburn
It said the ministry is making “good progress” on a $29 million project in the Weyburn area. This includes a roundabout at the intersection of Highways 13 and 39. Concrete pouring for the roundabout is scheduled next week, with paving scheduled at the end of the month.
Weather permitting, the roundabout is expected to be done by the fall.
Highway 2
The third update is about a nearly 22-km section of Highway 2, north of its junction with Highway 16. The project has been removed from the Orange Zone Construction Update as only some minor off-road cleanup remains.
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