The sod has officially been turned for the $9.7 million Highway 4 twinning project in the town of Battleford.
Mayor Chris Odishaw welcomed Highways Minister Jim Reiter to Battleford Monday to do the honours, which will see the twinning of nearly four kilometres of highway within the town from Highway 16 to the Battle River Bridge.
The project will also see work done on the storm sewer system, relocation of utilities, as well as improvements to the intersections of 22nd, 29th and 35th streets. Work on the project is expected to go on through 2012.
On hand for the ceremonies were dignitaries including Mayor Ian Hamilton of North Battleford as well as municipal councillors from the city and town as well as representatives from the surrounding RMs.
The province will be contributing a 75 per cent investment to the project, which is being managed by the Town of Battleford. Reiter told reporters the province is investing $7.3 million while the town will be investing $2.4 million. That funding is through the ministry's Urban Highways Connector Program, previously signed on to by Battleford.
Reiter admits the Urban Connector Program is still "a work in progress" and there would be changes as they go along, but said the Battleford twinning showed "a very good example of the potential that it has."
"It's going to be a great thing for the Battlefords - it's going to improve traffic safety, it's going to make room for economic development," said Reiter.
In remarks prior to the sod-turning, Odishaw said the town embraced the Highway Connector Program as a way for the town "to have a say in its future." He elaborated on what he meant to reporters later.
"For many decades Highway 4 has been the western border of our community. It's been up in the air what was going to be going on," said Odishaw.
The Urban Connector Program allowed his town to be able to enter into negotiations with the Ministry of Highways and "actually have a little say about how we felt that could best serve the residents of the town of Battleford," said Odishaw.
Now that the Highway 4 twinning is ready to go ahead, Odishaw told reporters he expects within 30 to 60 days some landowners will begin to put in a service road tied to the urban connector. As well, a landowner on Highway 16, Kramer Caterpillar, will be building a new facility within town limits that will tie in as well.
Odishaw also said he was happy to move ahead with the improvements at the town's intersections with Highway 4, noting accidents have been common at those locations in recent years.
As for the cost of the project, Odishaw said $2.4 million is something the town can afford, with a solid reserve situation helping finance the cost.
