As a valued MHI stakeholder, ACEC-SK was invited to attend the embargoed pre-budget MHI presentation on March 19 at the Holiday Inn Express in Regina. Jason Gasmo, ACEC-SK Board Chair, Paul Pinder, Transportation Committee Chair, and Beverly MacLeod, Executive Director were present as the Ministry unveiled its plans for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Minister McMorris indicated that the 2014-15 Provincial Budget includes $664.5 million to build, operate and maintain Saskatchewan’s highways and transportation system.

The 2014-15 transportation capital projects budget is $405.2 million, which includes:

• construction of 19.5 km of new twinning lanes for Highway 16 East of Saskatoon to Clavet
• pre-construction activities for twinning projects on Highway 7 West of Saskatoon to Delisle for 24 km
• pre-construction planning for Highway 6 and 39 twinning from Regina to Estevan and Highway 39 East of Estevan to Bienfait for 8 km
• pre-construction work for the future passing lanes on Highway 7 from Delisle to Rosetown
• repaving of 300 km of highway and renewing bridges and culverts, and equipment; accommodations and, other minor capital projects, and
• $31.4 million is for partnership programs including $25.5 million for the Municipal Roads for the Economy program.

The $664.5 million budget represents an increase of $88.5 million over the previous year. This includes $50 million in unspent appropriation from last year that is being rolled into the 2014-15 budget.

ACEC-SK is very pleased to see continued investment in critical infrastructure that supports the province’s growth agenda.