Work has been continuing non-stop on the $60.6 million Highway 11 & 12 overpasses for Martensville and Warman, which the Government of Canada is contributing up to 50 per cent of eligible costs through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component. National and Regional Projects and the Government of Saskatchewan will be responsible for all remaining costs of the project.
With both projects on schedule and 60% complete, motorists are reminded to obey signs and slow down through the work zone as traffic restrictions are currently in place along both construction zones.
The completion of the project is expected to improve safety for the two communities, which have grown rapidly in population in recent years. “The growth in Martensville and Warman is phenomenal, and we are pleased to see the overpass construction progressing so well,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister David Marit said. “We are looking forward to getting this project completed to improve traffic flow and safety for people getting home or to work.”
With approximately 14,400 vehicles per day on Highway 12, the new interchange at Martensville will disperse traffic along Main Street and Centennial Drive, reducing congestion and providing safer access to current and future developments. “The safety of motorists is important to us and we’re reminding daily commuters that Main Street will be closed for a month,” Martensville Mayor Kent Muench said. “This will allow for the completion of the east abutment, providing access to the new bridge.”
Commuters to and from Martensville will be required to make an alternate travel plan by August 7th, as construction of the Highway 12 overpass will result in the closure of the Main Street exit for the remainder of August. This closure will prepare for the opening of the westbound lane of the bridge as well as the southbound on-ramp, which will be open by September of this year. The partial opening will provide motorists with access to the bridge, allowing them to merge into southbound traffic into Saskatoon, rather than cross the northbound traffic on the busy highway. The closure will help construction move along more rapidly than originally planned.
As of June, motorists have been provided with a new entry point into Martensville at 4th Street South, and more recently, a new southbound lane, heading towards Saskatoon, was opened. The contractors from Peter Kiewit Sons ULC have plans to have a northbound lane ready for use in early August. Full opening of the overpass is planned for August of 2019.