No. H069/02
For release June 25, 2002

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON
$8.1 MILLION HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN SASKATCHEWAN

OTTAWA - Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and M.P. (Wascana), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with Saskatchewan Minister of Highways and Transportation Mark Wartman, today announced that work has begun on upgrading a section of Highway 16 in the North Battleford area.

Joint funding of $8.1 million for this project falls under the Canada/Saskatchewan Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The project is expected to be completed by fall 2002.

Under the Canada/Saskatchewan SHIP agreement, signed January 4, 2002, the Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan agreed to provide joint funding of $37 million over five years for highway improvement projects in the province. The Canada/Saskatchewan SHIP agreement is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001.

“This funding will play an important role in helping to improve Saskatchewan’s roads and highways. Furthermore, it will help bolster the local economy, and improve public safety,” said Mr. Goodale.

“I am pleased that more than $4 million of federal funds from the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program is being used for this highway construction project,” said Mr. Collenette. “This project, which will enhance safety and improve the flow of traffic, is an excellent example of cooperation between the Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan.”

Highway 16, also known as the Yellowhead Highway, is the northern east-west transportation corridor across Western Canada. Approximately 3,000 vehicles a day use the western section of Highway 16 in Saskatchewan.

“One of Saskatchewan’s top highway capital construction objectives is to twin Highway 16 from Saskatoon to the Alberta border by 2010,” added Mr. Wartman. “This highway construction project goes a long way in contributing to this goal.”

The project involves twinning 3.2 kilometres of Highway 16, starting west of the Highway 16/Highway 4 junction, and connecting to the new bridge over the North Saskatchewan River in North Battleford. The project will also involve constructing the necessary north and south access roads to the new highway.

Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

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Contact: 

Robin Browne
Communications 
Ottawa, Ontario 
(613) 993-0055

Vanessa Gooliass-Beaupré
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation
Regina, Saskatchewan
(306) 787-4792

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.  Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

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BACKGROUNDER

In the February 2000 Budget Speech, the Government of Canada committed to improve the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600 million over five years in highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001, Transport Minister David Collenette announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component.

Under the program, $500 million will be available to address the needs of Canada’s highways until March 2006. The program formally begins in fiscal year 2002-2003. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to identify those parts of the national highway system that - because of growing traffic and increasing trade - need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians.

An allocation formula has been developed to distribute the $485 million available to the provinces and territories for road construction under SHIP. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share based on population and a 50-50 cost-sharing ratio. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for the Province of Saskatchewan is $18.5 million.

An environmental assessment that meets the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be undertaken before the project begins. The funding for the project is conditional on the results of this environmental assessment. Transport Canada will not fund the project if it is determined that it could have any significant adverse environmental impacts.

SHIP will also provide $100 million nationally to fund initiatives which better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings and better transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety.

June 2002