News Releases

Do you have ten minutes to help shape Saskatoon’s financial future? Visit Citizen Budget the City of Saskatoon’s new online tool for gathering public feedback on how the municipal portion of property tax dollars are spent. Citizen Budget provides Saskatoon citizens an opportunity to comment on key civic services and programs, and also offer general comments on any matters of concern.

Spend more, spend less or spend about the same? There are eight days left to tell us what you think about the City’s proposed 2016 Budget. Citizen Budget will be closed after next Friday, November 13.

Importantly, City Council and Administration will consider all public feedback gathered through Citizen Budget prior to their final budget deliberations, November 30, December 1 & 3, 2015. Visitors to City Hall can also leave their comments at the budget display in the front lobby.

Graham Commuter Partners (GCP) continues to design the North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge project. The group is currently submitting the necessary regulatory permits required to begin construction on the Traffic Bridge as well as doing some exploratory work at the site of the new bridge.

“Construction in the river cannot commence until all permits are received,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects. “GCP is currently proposing the first stages of activity would include mobilizing a staging area in Rotary Park and construction of an earthen berm from the south bank of the river to the existing pier in the centre of the river.

“The staging area will act as the site for construction vehicles and operations, and the berm will allow construction access within the river for the new bridge.”

GCP hopes the Traffic Bridge permits will be received in the coming weeks, and plans to begin construction very soon after these are received. This means residents could soon begin to see activity in and around the Traffic Bridge site.

Under the proposed plan, demolition of the second span in from the Rotary Park riverbank would then proceed, and the central pier would be improved to accommodate the new bridge structure.

“Following this stage of work, which is expected to be complete by April 2016, GCP plans to draw back the earthen berm southward and continue work around the span nearest the Rotary Park riverbank in the 2016 spring and summer season.”

Similar permit applications for the North Commuter Parkway Bridge are being prepared and are expected to be submitted to regulatory authorities by GCP in early 2016.

The City will provide additional design details to the public as they are available. All roadways and bridges will be operational by October 2018.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

22ND ST W WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) AND CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CONFEDERATION DR
(Overpass repair)
Start: November 7, 8:00 a.m. End: November 7, 5:00 p.m.

33RD ST E EB & WB CLOSED FROM 10TH AVE N TO EDWARD AVE
(Utility patch paving)
Start: November 8, 7:00 a.m. End: November 8, 4:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR N NB PORTION OF OFF RAMP CLOSED AT ATTRIDGE DR
(Lightpole repair)
Start: November 8, 7:30 a.m. End: November 8, 9:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM WARMAN RD TO SPADINA CRES E
(Laneline painting)
Start: November 8, 7:30 a.m. End: November 8, 4:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB PORTION OF OFF RAMP CLOSED AT LORNE AVE
(Lightpole repair)
Start: November 8, 11:00 a.m. End: November 8, 12:30 p.m.

22ND ST W EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM AVE P N TO AVE Q N
(Light repairs)
Start: November 8, 12:30 p.m. End: November 8, 2:30 p.m.

ONGOING

IDYLWYLD FWY NB ONRAMP FROM 8TH ST & LORNE AVENUE CLOSED
(Valve installation)
Use Taylor Street or Broadway Ave. More details saskatoon.ca/LorneSewerRehab
Start: November 4, 9:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

CLAYPOOL DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM AIRPORT DR TO MCCLOCKIN RD
(Road construction/landscaping)
Start: November 2, 3:00 p.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 11 SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) & NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM VICTOR RD TO CIRCLE DR
(Road construction)
Start: November 5, 9:00 a.m. End: November 7, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB curb lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: November 10, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB/NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM SAUNDERS PL TO 19TH ST E
(Expansion joint repairs)
Start: November 4, 9:00 a.m. End: November 13, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 1ST AVE
(Bridge maintenance)
Start: October 13, 7:00 p.m. End: November 23, 7:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 23, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

The northwest leg of Stonebridge Common connecting Preston Avenue to Gordon Road will open today in time for the afternoon commute. The opening of this portion of roadway completes the Stonebridge Common loop and provides increased access for residents of the Stonebridge neighbourhood.

Crews continue to work on storm sewer connections to facilitate the new school site on Gordon Road between the east and west legs of Stonebridge Common. This work is expected to be complete by November 18, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances. The current detours will be adjusted to accommodate the opening of the Stonebridge Common northwest leg.

The City thanks residents for their patience as the involved developers worked to achieve the necessary zoning requirements to open the roadway before winter.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Due to the mild weather that Saskatoon has been enjoying, final day of operations for the West Compost Depot has been extended to Sunday, November 8. Residents now have two extra days to bring their unbagged Halloween pumpkins, leaves, grass and non-elm branches to the depot.

West – Highway 7 Depot

• Located at the junction of Highway 7 and 11th Street West
• Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday (November 6-8, 2015)
• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Closed for the season beginning Monday, November 9

Please note that vehicles will not be admitted into the depot after 5:45 p.m.

Due to the fact that it is not a permanent location, the East Depot will remain closed for the season. Compost materials from the east side will be transferred to the West Depot for processing.

The compost depots will re-open in April, 2016. For more information, including the types of material accepted, visit saskatoon.ca/compost.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City will make further strides toward improving waste management following the announcement today the province will launch its Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP).

“This is much welcome news,” says Environment and Corporate Initiatives Director Brenda Wallace.  “The funding for municipal recycling initiatives will help ensure our programs are financially sustainable as we work toward our goal of seventy per cent waste diversion by 2023.”

The MMRP is an initiative cost-shared between businesses and municipalities to provide funding to collect recyclables such as newsprint, cardboard, plastic and glass packaging.

An arms-length agency, Multi-Material Stewardship Western (MMSW) collects fees from businesses that produce, sell or distribute packaging to Saskatchewan homes; it then reimburses the municipalities for collecting the recyclables from those products.

Under the program the City could be eligible for more than $900,000 in funding.

“The amount of material diverted from the landfill can reduce environmental impacts,” Wallace says.  “There is no doubt, the funding will help ensure recycling efforts continue to extend the operating life of the landfill and lighten the load on city taxpayers in future.”

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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Saskatoon Transit, including Access Transit, will provide complimentary bus transportation to and from the 2015 Remembrance Day Ceremonies at SaskTel Centre on Wednesday, November 11. The free bus service will depart as follows:

Downtown Special Events Stop (23^rd Street & 2^nd Avenue) – buses will depart every 15 minutes between 9:00 and 10:15 a.m.

Market Mall – Departure from the mall transit terminal at 9:45 a.m.

The Centre Mall – Departure from the mall transit terminal at 9:45 a.m.

Return trips will begin immediately following the close of ceremonies (approximately 12:15 p.m.). Free service to and from SaskTel Centre will also be available for individuals using Access Transit - regular booking procedures apply.

For more information on Transit’s free Remembrance Day service, please call Transit Customer Service at 306-975-3100.

A special thank you to RBC Royal Bank for proudly sponsoring the free transit service.

Learn more about Saskatoon Transit service by visiting saskatoontransit.ca or following @StoonTransit on Twitter. You can also plan your route in advance using any of the following tools: Saskatoon Transit Trip Planner, Google Transit Trip Planner, or the Transit App on your mobile device.

The City of Saskatoon reminds residents that the final round of public engagement for the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan) closes at midnight, Sunday, November 8, 2015.

Have your say!  Visit www.growingfwd.ca to review the final draft plan and provide feedback on the proposed long-term plans and implementation priorities for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, Preston Avenue, and College Drive; and a new river crossing connecting 33^rd Street to Preston Avenue, combined with dedicated BRT lanes on the University Bridge.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help guide future infrastructure investments and land-use decisions so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 to 40 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan, or to sign up for project update notifications, visit www.growingfwd.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours, and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon is accepting applications for vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Animal Control, the Albert Community Centre Management Committee, the Library Board, the Centennial Auditorium & Convention Centre Board of Directors (TCU Place), and the Board of Revision/License Appeal Board.

Interested candidates should submit their application, resumé, and two letters of reference using the on-line Committee Application Form and Reference Form located at saskatoon.ca/boards.  The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday November 27, 2015.  All applications will be kept on file and reviewed throughout the year should further openings occur.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Saskatoon’s oldest public artwork, the Sergeant (Sgt.) Hugh Cairns Monument has been successfully restored.  While in remarkably good shape for its age, the marble sculpture required professional cleaning and repointing of its granite base.  The work was completed in October of this year as part of the City’s ongoing effort to conserve its collection of commemorations and monuments for future generations. 

The Sgt. Hugh Cairns Monument is a carved marble figure of Saskatoon’s own Hugh Cairns with a soccer ball beneath his foot and a hand on his hip, standing atop a four-piece granite base.  Engraved in the base is a 75-name honour roll of Saskatoon soccer players killed in the First World War.  The monument was installed on the south edge of Kinsmen Park in 1921, on the very field where Hugh Cairns and fellow athletes played soccer before the war.

Hugh Cairns was killed in action in France on November 2, 1918.  On November 1, 1919, he was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.  He was also awarded France’s highest honour, the Legion of Honour.

The City gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada – Veterans Affairs Canada for funds granted from the Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program.  The City would also like to thank the Military Institute of Saskatoon for supporting the grant application. 

For more information on this monument and other artworks and commemorations in the City’s collection, please visit saskatoon.ca/publicart.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.