Construction on the 11th Avenue – part of the City of Regina’s ongoing revitalization project for the area – is set to begin on Monday between Albert Street and Broad Street. The project to enhance the road, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and underground infrastructure is now in its fourth year, and the city said it is approaching its final stages.

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“The 11th Avenue Revitalization Project is a key part of the City Centre Revitalization Plan to create a walkable, welcoming and safe city centre that attracts more people and businesses to live, work, visit and invest,” Chris Warren, Regina’s director of roadways and transportation, said in a statement.

“This project will modernize critical infrastructure while enhancing accessibility and supporting a vibrant downtown experience.”

During the 2026 phase of the project, the road will be closed between Scarth Street and Cornwall Street, beginning on Mon, April 6.

“As work progresses, closures will move west along 11th Avenue toward Albert Street, with crews completing underground utility upgrades and above ground road and sidewalk reconstruction,” the city explained in a statement.

“While the road will be closed or restricted to vehicles, pedestrian and business access will remain open, adjacent to the construction zone.”

The city said transit will return to 11th Avenue once work is completed.

Some businesses along 11th Avenue have struggled during long periods of construction in previous years.

“We just spend our winters trying to save money to pay for the summer. It’s rough,” said Kelly Cairns, an owner of The Cure.

Last month, Chad Bachynski said he learned a lot about construction in his first year as the city’s mayor.

“Twenty-four-hour construction across the board is likely not feasible,” he said at a council meeting. “But I know there’s some good work happening, and I want to build on that.”

Bachynski said he understood there were some frustrations with sidewalk closures and said the city will use that feedback when planning out closures during this year’s construction season.

Chris Warren, Regina’s director of roadways and transportation, said construction would begin between those blocks with finishing the northern sidewalk and smoothing out the roads pavement.

Between Lorne Street and Albert Street, he said underground infrastructure will be updated. Trees will be planted along Scarth Street and Broad Street earlier in the year.

Warren said the section between Cornwall Street and Albert Street was one of the most difficult to complete, last year.

“We know the next phase between Cornwall and Albert Street is not as complex but we’ll still have some issues into that, details that we have to work through,” he said. “But we’re hoping to use our experience from last year to improve upon this year’s season.”

The latest updates on traffic restrictions associated with the revitalization, along with renderings of the completed project, can be found on the City of Regina’s website.

–with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie

Several proposals came out of a 2021 study, published in 2022, conducted by consultant KGS. Among them were widening Arcola Avenue, improving the Arcola and Assiniboine interchanges on Ring Road, and a connecting Prince of Wales Drive with Wascana Parkway.

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It’s that last one that has raised controversy in recent months. A group of residents says any extension of Prince of Wales Drive would threaten the McKell Wascana Conservation Park. They also worry about increased traffic near W.S. Hawrylak School.

Evan Guenther, the city’s acting director of sustainable infrastructure, says those concerns will be looked at as part of a functional study scheduled to happen this year.

“Looking at route options, our environmental and regulatory requirements, our floodplain and land needs impacts to the surrounding neighbourhood, and also the other surrounding landowners as well,” he explained.

“Design and construction would proceed only if the project proves feasible and obviously, if council approves those future budgets.”

Others who will be included due to potential impacts are the Provincial Capital Commission, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the Wascana Golf and Country Club, the R.M. of Sherwood, and the George Gordon First Nation, which owns the former Agriculture Canada land.

Guenther said the First Nation has been working on a neighbourhood plan that includes the extension. However, the land is located within the R.M. of Sherwood, outside city limits.

“(It’s) not necessarily within our our zone of control, but integrating the corridor through lands adjacent to the city is always mutually beneficial,” he said.

“The city will be collaborating with them and the R.M. on the alignment and right of way needs and engagement will acknowledge traditional territory and authority and commit to a respectful dialogue.”

He said there is a reserved right-of-way adjacent to the conservation park for the road itself, but couldn’t speculate on the exact route, or what the impacts on the conservation park might be until the study is complete.

“Environmental sustainability is a key principle for the City of Regina and we’ll be sure to adhere to that as well.”

Guenther said one item on the list planned for 2027 is the addition of an on-ramp from Assiniboine Avenue to Ring Road northbound. It’s in the detailed design phase now.

Another proposal that’s been put on hold is improvements to the Park Street intersection. Guenther explained it will be timed to coincide with underground infrastructure work.

When prioritizing these projects, Guenther said it’s not just about congestion; safety is emphasized.

“We prioritize locations with higher collision histories and make sure that these safety improvements are implemented, because the safety is the number one priority,” he explained.

“Improved safety reduces congestion because there’s less pausing for accidents and what have you. But that’s really the key kind of factor in all of this work.”

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Rawlco Radio employee Amanda Fisher said when she was driving in the area when she saw “a huge ball of fire.”

“There’s firefighters running around and you just see the bones of the house. Really you can’t tell it was a house. It’s a chaotic scene right now,” said Fisher in a phone interview.

She added the street was “lit up like a Christmas tree.”

Fisher said Pasqua Street between Sherwood Drive and Donahue was “completely blocked off.”

The fire was reported at 8:08 a.m.

This photo shows the house on the 100 block of Pasqua Street after a fire on Thursday morning. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

Deputy fire chief Gord Hewitt said there was significant fire and smoke when firefighters arrived at the home.

“When we showed up, the garage and house were involved in the fire,” he said.

He said crews are still on the scene right now “doing salvage and overhaul.”

An inspector will complete an investigation to determine where the fire started, noted Hewitt.

No injuries were reported.

“The fire is now under control and crews and continuing salvage and overhaul. All searches completed and no injuries reported,” the fire department said in a statement.

In an updated release at 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, the Regina Police Service said traffic on Ring Road (Highway 1) and Albert Street South has been reopened.

“Drivers can continue on their usual routes,” it said.

In a previous release, before 11 a.m., police said the crash is affecting traffic in the eastbound lanes of Ring Road (Highway 1), as well as the eastbound exit ramp from Albert Street onto Ring Road.

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The Regina Police Service thanks the public for their cooperation and patience during the incident.

The entire stretch of 11th is blocked off from Broad Street to Albert Street.

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Mayor Chad Bachynski said he understands the frustration during an appearance on the Greg Morgan Morning Show.

“That’s a big stretch of road to block off, and it is frustrating,” the mayor said.

“I completely acknowledge that. I drive down there as well. It’s tough getting around. But the reality is, we have to get it done.”

Bachynski said the entire stretch is closed because both city and SaskPower are doing work at the same time.

He said the city is fixing its underground infrastructure on 11th Avenue from Broad Street inwards to Lorne Street, while SaskPower crews working from Albert Street to around Lorne Street.

“This is probably the worst of it,” Bachynski said.

“There’s actually multiple crews trying to get all that done at the same time, so as that stage is over we will start to see it open up.”

Bachynski explained that the city will move to where SaskPower crews are working once they finish up their part of the construction.

“The first leg from Broad inwards through to around Lorne will be opened up,” he said.

SaskPower crews are working on 11th Aveue from Albert Street to around Lorne Street. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

Bachynski said city workers are replacing infrastructure buried under the road that dates back to 1913.

“When it’s all said and done, it’s going to be an absolutely transformative project,” he said.

“So short-term pain for for some long-term gain there.”

Asked if there is anything that can be done to improve rush-hour traffic during the construction, Bachynski said the city is working to communicate with commuters.

“Our folks in the city who are overseeing some of these things are communicating daily with the folks down there on anything we can do to change signage, to change how the lanes are working,” the mayor said.

“They’re constantly trying to pivot and see if we can do things.”

When asked about the construction on Dewdney, Bachynski said he hopes the work will be “substantially completed” before snow flies.

“There are some challenges with some of the older infrastructure and the deep, deep pipes that are down there that they’re working on, but they’re working hard to get it done,” he said.

“If you’re checking it out, you can actually start to see some of the paving and some of the paving stones that are getting put up there.”

According to the Moose Jaw Police Service, a new bylaw approved by city council late last month will drop the speed limits in 18 playground zones around the city from 40 km/h to 30 km/h, and the new signs showing the lowered speed limits will start going up on Tuesday.

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The reduced speed limits will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily after the signage has been changed.

The police service said its officers will work to educate the public about the changes and won’t be handing out tickets to drivers going between 30 and 40 km/h in playground zones during the grace period, which will end on June 20 after all of the new signs have been installed.

“Officers will continue to issue tickets if the vehicle’s speed is in excess of the previously posted 40 km/h playground zone,” the police service noted.

“Motorists are reminded to use caution when in a playground zone, as children may be present.”

More information on the locations of the new playground zones can be found on the City of Moose Jaw’s website.

The overpass upgrade project will begin Monday, and the City of Regina said traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction across the northbound lanes throughout the 2025 construction season. The northwest loop ramp will also be closed during this year’s construction season, but detours will be in place to give drivers an alternate route.

The city said the overpasses are vital for both commuters and trucking, but both structures are currently in poor shape.

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“The Albert Street North Overpass Upgrade Project will involve fully replacing both overpasses while reusing much of their existing foundations,” the city said in a statement.

“The southbound overpass will be replaced in 2025 and the northbound overpass in 2026.”

Lane closures on Ring Road will also occasionally be needed in order to keep workers safe during the upgrade project, but the city noted that any full closures on Ring Road will happen overnight or on weekends to minimize traffic disruptions. The city said advance notice of traffic restrictions will be provided as the project takes shape.

The new overpasses will be raised to reduce the potential for damage from over-height vehicles, and will include improved barriers and guardrails to comply with modern safety standards, the city said.

The project is expected to be completed in October of 2026, “and will deliver two fully refurbished overpasses that will support Regina’s transportation network for decades to come.”

“I was really disappointed to have this brought to light down here at public works, and to have my operators having to deal with this, among many, many things that we’re working through right now with long hours and overnight work” Harlton told Discover Moose Jaw.

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“My understanding of the incidents is pretty simple. As we’re working through our priority routes, for whatever reason people have been approaching our equipment, and my understanding is that includes right up to climbing up ladders and getting into doors and sharing their opinions.”

Harlton said everyone needs to let the operators focus on their work. Complaints should be made through the City of Moose Jaw app, or by calling or emailing public works directly.

The city responded to the reports with a media release on Wednesday urging residents not to approach heavy machinery while in operation, as there are serious risks and safety concerns with doing so, particularly with the long hours operators have been putting in.

“The young men and women that work in our roadways team and the folks here at public works are all people that have made a decision to work for the city and to work on my team,” Harlton added. “They all live in and around the area. They’re your friends and neighbours.

“We have asked them here to put in long hours, for challenging work, with the intersections and the traffic control and keeping themselves safe and completing the work to an appropriate level of service. They have enough on their minds. Please let them work.

“There’s the safety aspects, but there’s also the respect piece of it as well.”

The city’s Water Network Expansion Project has forced traffic down to one lane on a section of Ring Road, the speed limit on a portion of the busy freeway is reduced to 60 km/h. But that may not be the case for much longer. According to a statement from the city, those traffic restrictions should be coming to an end soon as the project wraps up for the year.

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“Road users will notice the contractor starting to reduce the traffic restrictions and clear the road over the next two weeks, with both lanes being reopened to traffic in mid-December,” the city’s statement read.

“The contractor is currently wrapping up their last couple of construction locations, filling in excavations and cleaning up various equipment and materials along the route. Most of the project’s work was completed in 2024, and only a small amount is remaining to complete in spring 2025, such as landscaping and chain link fence installation.”

The city added that the work on Ring Road could have taken much longer than it did.

“The Water Network Expansion Project required the installation of a new 8.4 km-long, large-diameter water main,” the city explained.

“The contractor had up to four crews working at various locations throughout the year to increase the speed at which the project could be completed. This project was originally estimated to take 2 full years, but the contractor was able to significantly accelerate the schedule.”

The overarching goal of the water network expansion is to allow the city to continue meeting the water pressure and storage needs of current and future residents. The city said the new pumping station and reservoirs will allow Regina’s water network to accommodate a population of up to 310,000. The new facilities will be expandable in the future to accommodate a population as large as 500,000.

Along with the expansion, the project will see trees planted and new lights installed along portions of Ring Road.

Snowfall warnings from Environment Canada blanketed central and eastern Saskatchewan, including both Saskatoon and Regina, as well as Prince Albert, Melfort, Humboldt, Weyburn and Yorkton. The weather service said five to 15 centimetres of snow could accumulate throughout the day, with another two to five centimetres expected overnight as the storm system weakens.

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“Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations,” Environment Canada warned in a statement.

“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”

Saskatchewan RCMP said officers had received reports of 44 weather-related collisions and incidents throughout the province up until mid-afternoon, with vehicles ending up in a ditch and jackknifed semis the most common. No one has been injured, police said.

RCMP also said southbound lanes of Highway 16 at Beam Road, northwest of Saskatoon, and northbound lanes of Highway 11, north of Bethune, are closed, and motorists should check the highway hotline before travelling.

According to the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, plows are out clearing the highways. Still, many routes are covered by snow, and travel was not recommended on Tuesday morning on several highways in the Watrous area or  Highway 1 between Balgonie and Fort Qu’Appelle.

650 CKOM’s Alex Brown was on the roads early on Tuesday morning in Saskatoon. She said plows and sanding trucks were out on the streets, but advised drivers to leave early if possible because it’s slow going on the roads in the Bridge City.

The @cityofsaskatoon plows and sanders are out on the streets!
But many areas are still quite deep, or slippery, so be careful out there @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/k6ABLI5Ls9

— Alex Brown (@AlexBrownYXE) November 19, 2024

In Regina, 980 CJME listeners reported very slippery conditions, with ice underneath fresh snow, and some drivers having difficulty seeing lanes.

Environment Canada said, “northwest winds gusting to 60-80 km/h, giving poor visibility in snow and blowing snow.”