Federal Public Safety minister Ralph Goodale announced funding of $53.3 million towards the building of passing lanes on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and Estevan, at a news conference held on Thursday at Weyburn City Hall. The announcement was made jointly with provincial Highways and Infrastructure Minister David Marit, with the passing lanes and related upgrades to be completed by 2023.
The project will consist of 16 sets of passing lanes in the highest traffic volume areas, along with twinning of short segments of the highway south of Regina, north of Milestone and south of Weyburn, and the rehabilitation of pavement, and improving intersections and highway entrances and exits along the corridor.
“Highway 6 and 39 is consistently Saskatchewan’s biggest trade corridor with the United States. Each year about 100,000 trucks move $6 billion in goods along this route,” said Goodale, pointing out that this is a cost-effective way to bring safety enhancements to the busy highway.
He said the U.S. is Canada’s biggest export market, and Canada is the biggest one for the U.S., with the economy of 35 states depending on trade with Canada.
Marit said there are as many as 500 trucks a day going through North Portal.
For the complete story on this announcement, see the Weyburn Review on July 11.
