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As winter driving conditions shift quickly across Saskatchewan, the Highway Hotline remains a key tool for commuters.
Dan Palmer with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways says most of the information on the Highway Hotline comes from equipment operators and snowplow crews across the province.
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“Saskatchewan has more than 26,500 kilometres of provincial highway network. That is the largest per capita highway network in Canada, it’s as vast as our great province. These highway snowplow operators are trained and have experience to determine what the road conditions are as they’re out there, and they report them to the Highway Hotline.”
Reports are made throughout the day to keep up with rapidly changing weather conditions. Commuter routes are updated at least four times a day, while other routes are updated at least three times a day.
This is why it is recommended that drivers check the Highway Hotline before leaving home and before leaving their destination.
“The key thing is motorists should be checking it regularly because it’s updated with the latest available conditions. As the weather is changing those highway conditions change as well, so just because a highway condition is a certain way in the morning, it may have changed again in the afternoon.”
The resource also features 50 camera locations, giving motorists a real-time look at road conditions, as well as the “Track My Plow” feature, which shows where equipment is currently operating and where it has recently cleared. It also has built in weather and radar information, alongside information on road conditions not associated with weather, such as construction or surface damage.
Palmer encourages drivers to check the Highway Hotline before travelling and to always drive according to the conditions.
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