Pilot Butte overpass opening ahead of schedule

“One of the benefits of this P3 partnership is that, while project completion dates are absolute, the private sector partners have flexibility in staging their work,” Wyant said. “We couldn’t have accomplished this without the co-operation of the Regina Bypass Partners, utility companies and the Ochapowace First Nation. As the land owner, Ochapowace was willing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding so work could begin prior to the title being transferred.”

“Whether people are regular commuters or only use the highway occasionally, today’s announcement is great news,” Pilot Butte Mayor Nat Ross said. “We’ve been working with the ministry to address our safety concerns and we appreciate that they were able to find a way to get this overpass constructed sooner.”

Construction remains on time and on budget in all areas of the Regina Bypass project.  The first phase will be completed in the fall of 2017.  It will include an upgraded roadway between Balgonie and Tower Road, along with overpasses at Balgonie, White City and Tower Road.  That work will be followed by the completion of the overpass at the Pilot Butte access, followed by the remainder of the project in 2019.

During construction, drivers are reminded to watch for work zones and slow to 60 km/h for the safety of those working on the Bypass.

 

About the Regina bypass:

The Regina Bypass is the largest transportation project in Saskatchewan history.  Once complete, it will allow motorists to safely commute to their destinations on Highway 1 east of Regina and will reduce congestion in and around Regina.  It will also provide important linkages to the national highway system to help Saskatchewan producers and manufacturers get their goods to market.

It includes:

• 12 overpasses;
• 40 kilometres of new four-lane highway;
• 20 kilometres of resurfaced four-lane highway;
• 55 kilometres of new service roads; and
• Twinning of approximately five kilometres of Highway 6.