REGINA, Sask. — The Province of Saskatchewan has announced it’s fulfilling its three-year, $900-million spending spree on highways this year, with the commitment of another $296.2 million.

“Saskatchewan is positioned to be among North America’s leaders in economic growth in the coming year,” Highways and Transportation Minister Mark Wartman recently announced. “It is imperative that we have a transportation infrastructure that enables us to capitalize on our opportunities and build a better future.”

Wartman recently announced the province’s intentions for the 2003/2004 construction year. Among the projects receiving attention this year are: accelerated twinning of the Trans-Canada Hwy. with the stretch from Regina to Alberta being opened to traffic this year, five years ahead of schedule; Hwy. 16 from North Battleford to Lloydminster to be fully twinned by 2007; $90 million will go towards upgrading 450km of rural highways to improve the movement of oil and gas products and agricultural commodities; the completion of 30km of Hwy. 6 between the U.S. border and Regina; and the rebuilding of nothern highways to support truck traffic in the forestry sector.

In addition, more than 750km of provincial highways will be improved, 245km of thin membrane surface highways will be brought up to modern standards and more than $10 million will go towards major northern highway improvements this year.

Much of the spending is aimed at improving the flow of goods through the province and providing a highway system that will better support modern volumes of truck traffic.

“With exports accounting for nearly two-thirds of the province’s gross domestic product, Saskatchewan needs a modern and competitive transportation infrastructure to get our products to market,” says Wartman.