Saskatchewan is marking the final stages of a $6.8 million project to improve access to Highway 1 and Highway 4 in Swift Current. The project, which began in late July with road work starting in August, is expected to be completed by the end of October. The project highlights include the replacement of concrete curbing and a median, the installation of five culverts, surfacing various Highway 1 service roads and ramps, as well as surfacing segments of Highway 4. It’s a much needed improvement for a travel hub in Swift Current. Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal said tens of thousands of travellers make their way down Highway 1 every day. “These service roads, they come off number one highway, they use the service roads to access restaurants and shops and hotels and motels,” he said. “So it’s a huge part for people visiting us, but then all our citizens use the same service roads to get to business malls, restaurants” Highways Minister Kim Gartner said an average lifespan for an asphalt surface is 15 years, which can be extended up to 30 years if it’s well maintained. “But if you do good maintenance ... you can extend that life out, as you can tell across the province, we’ve got highways that are many years old,” he said. “Swift Current is very important, especially in what’s coming down with economic development in the area with traffic flowing through,” Gartner added. “Just north of here, we’ve got the helium development starting to take place. The traffic that comes in and through Swift Current isn’t just local; it’s travelling through across the province and into Alberta.” Gartner says the Ministry of Highways is currently in the current budget cycle right now and that they’ll make their presentation to the treasury board over the next couple of months on what roads should be addressed next. Residents are encouraged to check Highway Hotline for road closures and updates on construction projects.
