The unprecedented flooding in Saskatchewan this year has caused the provincial government to invest an additional $66 million into the Highways and Infrastructure budget for 2011.
In a news release August 23 from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, it was announced the funding will be used for the repair of provincial highways damaged by flooding and high water levels.
The sections of highways in the Humboldt and District area that will benefit from the funding include Highways 5, 6, 16, 20, 35, 202, and 365.
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter confirmed that work is ongoing to repair the damaged roads, and that work would continue into the fall and winter months.
"It is a question of when contractors will be available to do the work," Reiter said in an interview by telephone, "In many cases, they have to finish a job they are already working on, but we'll go as long as the weather lets us."
Spokesman for the ministry, Doug Wakayabashi, couldn't confirm any dates that work would begin on the specific sections of highway needing to be done around the Humboldt area, but did comment on the section of Highway 5 between Dixon and Carmel, where the road was built up to allow traffic to pass after the heavy flooding.
"Now that the grading has settled over the course of the year, we're going to finish the asphalting that was begun," Wakayabashi said about the surface work done on that section of highway. "There is a risk of further settlement next spring, and if that happens then we'll go back and put more asphalt on."
More than 120 sections of highway have been closed at various times this year due to flooding or water-related damage, and the ministry has identified approximately 400 repair projects to be completed.
The ministry said it will start work on the more urgent repairs, such as surface and bridge repairs, while the good weather is still around and keep projects such as culverts for later on in the year.
"If a culvert is failed, we will repair it right away," confirmed Wakayabashi, "otherwise if the culvert is still functioning, then we will put it on a less urgent list."
In addition to the surface repairs on Hwy. 5 west of Humboldt, some of the other road work on the ministry's list include:Highway 5:
Culvert and surface repairs at the LeRoy access
Surface repairs east of Wadena, between Wadena and Quill Lake, and between Watson and Muenster.
Highway 6:
Surface repairs and bridge repair south of Watson
Highway 16:
Surface repairs near Wynyard and at the Jansen access
Shoulder repairs near Lanigan
Highway 20:
Surface and culvert repairs south of Humboldt Traffic control north and south of Humboldt
Highway 35:
Culvert repair 18 kilometres north of Wadena
Highway 202:
Surface and culvert repairs 7 kilometres north of Jct. Hwy 2
Highway 365:
Surface repairs between Watrous and Highway 16
