The Trans-Canada Highway in southwest Saskatchewan has re-opened to traffic following recent flooding in the area.
Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, Jim Reiter has explained that crews and contractors have been working around the clock to get the highway re-opened.
Highway 1 was closed on June 19 when water covered about 5 km of the highway, straddling the Saskatchewan-Alberta border. On June 20, a section of the west-bound road crumbled and a portion of the east-bound passing lane was severly damaged due to the flood.
The Highway is now re-opened as a two lane highway until crews can rebuild the portion of the west-bound lane that was destroyed. For west-bound traffic, the two-lane section starts 2 km west ofthe Highway 21 junction. For travellers heading east, the two-lane traffic starts about 14 km east of the railway overpass on Highway 1.
The Ministry of Highways are now turning their attention to restoring the full, four-lane service. Design work has begun on the full reconstruction of the west-bound lanes and construction work will get underway once the designs are complete. Once the west-bound lanes are completed, all traffic will move to that side so that crews can repair the east-bound lane.
Because of the heavy construction and two-lane traffic, motorists are being asked to reduce speeds and to be cautious and alert.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
