Saskatoon, SK–Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan Leader Rose Buscholl is calling for more information to be made public by the Premier Moe government about the ongoing planning of the Saskatoon Freeway Project.
“Sure, there were some small public consultations during COVID, but that is less than satisfactory for a project costing hundreds of millions of dollars…. perhaps over $1 Billion,” stated Buscholl. “I am sure Saskatoon does not want an expensive boondoggle her siter city Regina suffered during the GTH construction.”
The Government of Saskatchewan, through the Ministry of Highways, is in the midst of a multi-year functional planning study which will determine how the Saskatoon Freeway will look and operate. This freeway is expected to be a minimum four-lane, 55-kilometre stretch of divided highway that begins at Highway 11 south of Saskatoon and connects with Highway 7 west of the city. It will then expand further from Highway 11 south crossing Hwy 16, Hwy 5, and Hwy 41 east of the city, across the South Saskatchewan River crossing the Swales, an ecological sensitive area. The planning is scheduled to be finished in 2024 with construction soon to follow.
However, to date there does not seem to have been any Environmental Impact study nor Heritage Study made public. Further, with limited public consultations done during the height of the pandemic, low turnout was almost ensured. PC Leader Buscholl does not want the Saskatoon Freeway Project to be that city’s version of the Regina bypass (GTH) fiasco of controversy and massive cost overruns.
“There seems to be a large element of secrecy or corruption about this project,” Buscholl asserts. “Folks would like to know their money is being well cared for. Was there an environmental impact/assessment study? Heritage study? Where are they? Show us the goods!”
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