Vanscoy, Sask. – Crews in Saskatchewan are nearing the finish line on a $66 million twinning project for Highway 7. The work entails the third and final phase the project around Vanscoy which will open to traffic this month depending on weather.
The 12 kilometres km of new lanes around Vanscoy will complete 31 kms of Highway 7 twinning between Saskatoon and Delisle.
“Highway 7 is a busy corridor for commuters and shippers who transport goods to national and international markets,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a news release “This twinning project, and the new passing lanes between Delisle and Kindersley, provides more opportunities to pass safely which helps traffic flow efficiently.”
The Government of Canada contributed $27.5 million to the project. Officials noted that Highway 7 is a crucial trade route for the province and connects communities such as Kindersley, Rosetown, Delisle and Saskatoon, as well as Calgary and ports on the west coast. The province has seen traffic on the route rise in the past decade by 20 per cent from nearly 3,000 vehicles per day to more than 3,500 per day today.
About 13 km of newly constructed lane east of Delisle to Vanscoy opened to motorists in July 2018. In October 2016, nine km of twinned highway opened to traffic between Saskatoon and Vanscoy.
“Our community is excited about the completion of the highway project,” Vanscoy Mayor Robin Odnokon said in a press release. “It will provide safety for our local commuters and all residents who travel the highway. We are very pleased to see this twinning project complete.”
Officials reminded drivers to be cautious, alert and aware of signs directing traffic as the new lanes open. Some additional work including signing, pavement marking and landscaping will still be required.
Officials advised drivers to slow to 60 km/hr through the work zone and pay close attention to the people and machinery working in the area.
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