Update - March 2026

The Connecting Millar Avenue from 43rd Street to Marquis Drive – Active Transportation Improvements report and the 51st Street and Millar Avenue Intersection Improvement report were presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Tuesday, February 3 at 2 pm at City Hall. The Committee deferred the reports, requesting “that the Administration engage affected businesses in an effort to address their concerns, bring back a summary, and propose solutions”.

The Administration has prepared revisions to the preferred design option (#1B): a 3-metre-wide shared-use pathway on both sides of Millar Avenue between 43rd Street and Marquis Drive, and a shared-use pathway on one side and sidewalk on the other side of 43rd Street between Millar Avenue and the Assiniboine Pedestrian Crossing. The revisions include deviations/deflections along the Millar Avenue corridor to minimize impacts to trees, utilities, and off-street parking, where possible.

A map of the project area is located here. More information, including the project schedule and estimated cost, can be found here.

You view the design options by clicking on the links below

Option 1A

Option 1B

Option 2

Next Steps

Administration will be contacting adjacent business and property owners along Millar Avenue to discuss the revised preferred design option in late-March to mid-April. Feedback from these engagements will be summarized and presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation along with a revised Connecting Millar Avenue – Active Transportation report, anticipated in June 2026.

Update - January 2026

The following reports will be proceeding to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Tuesday, February 3 at 2 pm at City Hall:

51st Street and Millar Avenue Intersection Improvement – A transportation functional design has been developed to improve safety and operations for people walking, cycling, and driving at the intersection of 51st Street and Millar Avenue. Option C – Full Reconstruction is recommended. The features of the recommended option include:

• Revised lane configuration for northbound and southbound traffic with a left turn bay, through lane and a shared through/right turn lane;
• Addition of a centre median for North and South legs to create right-in/right-out access for driveways near the intersection;
• Pedestrian accessibility ramps on all channelized islands; and
• Shared-use pathway on both sides of Millar Avenue.

Connecting Millar Avenue from 43rd Street to Marquis Drive – Active Transportation Improvements – This project identifies active transportation improvements for Millar Avenue from 43rd Street East to Marquis Drive and for 43rd Street East between Millar Avenue and the at grade pedestrian crossing of the Canadian National (CN) railway tracks to promote this section of Millar Avenue as a safe All Ages and Ability (AAA) multi-modal transportation corridor for vehicles, transit and active transportation. Shared-use pathway is recommended for both sides of Millar Avenue. Shared-use pathway on one side and sidewalk on the other side is recommended for 43rd Street.

Comments or requests to speak must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, February 2. Instructions on how to make submissions can be found on this webpage.

What We Learned (2024-2025)

In Round 1 engagement (March 2024) and Round 2 engagement (July 2024), we learned important considerations from property owners, business operators, members of the public and community groups, which included considerations for accessibility, comfort, convenience and safety of walking and cycling on Millar Avenue and 43rd Street East. In Round 3 engagement (March 2025), we heard thoughts on the preferred design option for incorporating walking and cycling facilities along Millar Avenue and 43rd Street East between Millar Avenue and the Canadian National (CN) railway tracks. The feedback is summarized in the What We Learned Report.

What is the Project About?

The City of Saskatoon is reviewing Millar Avenue (from 43rd Street to Marquis Drive) for the assessment, engagement, and design of walking and cycling facilities. As part of Saskatoon’s Active Transportation Plan’s (AT Plan) implementation strategy to have shelf-ready plans, the outcome of this project is to plan and design walking and cycling facilities, and does not include construction. Additionally, this project will address the lack of a sidewalk network along Millar Avenue and will NOT be taking away vehicle travel lanes in the design.

Update - March 2026

During the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Tuesday, February 3 at 2 pm at City Hall, we learned that adjacent business and property owners continued to have concerns with the preferred design option and felt that their concerns had not been heard through prior engagement events. Committee resolved to defer a decision on the project until the Administration conducts more focused engagement with adjacent business and property owners.

Administration will be contacting adjacent business and property owners adjacent to the intersection of 51st Street and Millar Avenue to discuss the preferred design option in late March to mid-April. Feedback from these engagements will be summarized and presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation and City Council along with a revised Connecting Millar Avenue – Active Transportation report, anticipated in June 2026.

A map of the project area is located here.

Engagement for the revised preferred design option is invitational for the adjacent businesses and property owners. If you feel that you have important feedback on the project or that you are an adjacent business or property owner and have not been contacted, you can contact us at transportationsurvey@saskatoon.ca.

What is the Project About?

The City of Saskatoon reviewed the intersection of 51st Street East and Millar Avenue to identify a permanent design that addresses the safety and operational issues that exist at this intersection. 

Why Are We Doing This Work?

This intersection was identified as requiring a review to assess the level of service after the construction of the North Commuter Parkway. The review identified problems in the following areas:

• Safety concerns at the driveways north and south of the intersection,
• Poor level of service during peak hours,
• Does not meet accessibility standards,
• Delays due to train crossings on 51st Street, east of the intersection, and
• Challenges for large vehicles heading westbound to make a right turn northbound.

Three different options have been developed to address these issues, including:

1. Option A: Improve Accessibility
2. Option B: Relocate Driveways
3. Option C: Full Reconstruction
4. Option D: Do Nothing 

After review, the recommended option is Option C – Full Reconstruction, which consists of:

• Changes to the northbound and southbound lane
  • Left turn bay, through lane and a shared through/right turn lane
• Addition of a median island in the north and south leg
• Improved accessibility at all channelized islands
• Improved truck turning movements

What We Learned (2024-2025)

The first round of engagement (July 2024), which consisted of an online survey and an open house, gathered feedback on three options that could address operational and safety issues. Comments heard from attendees were about accessibility, and pedestrian or cyclist safety concerns at this intersection. Some attendees made suggestions about changes to the configuration of driveway access at the intersection.

The second round of engagement (February 2025), which consisted of an online survey and an open house, gathered feedback on the options evaluation and the recommended option. Comments in support of the project typically addressed traffic congestion and safety, while comments opposed to the project typically addressed funding, snow clearing, and access to businesses. Some respondents felt that more needed to be done to address cycling and pedestrian safety. Maintaining business access during construction was raised as a significant concern.

The engagement boards from 2025 are available here. The feedback from the engagement events are summarized in the What We Learned Report.