News Releases

The City of Saskatoon will continue to expand the use of durable markings on major roadways and high speed freeways this year. Durable markings are more visible and last 7 to 10 years longer than regular road paint.

“Winter operations, including sanding and snow clearing, as well as high traffic volumes tend to wear off road paint faster,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “With increased funding in recent years we’ve been able to expand the use of durable markings, which are visible year round.”

The type of durable markings the City uses are called inlaid thermoplastic. Crews grind out 5 millimeter deep sections in the asphalt and fill the groove with the liquid plastic material to a level slightly above the roadway surface.  Glass reflective beads are then distributed across the liquid surface before it cures.

This year, durable markings will be applied to a total of 11.8 kilometers of road including, portions of Millar Avenue, Wanuskewin Road, Warman Road, 22nd Street, Lorne Avenue and Circle Drive. This work is scheduled to begin in June.

Traditional paint will still be used to mark lane, centre and edge lines on more than 800 kilometers of roadway across Saskatoon this year. Crews began painting lines on Monday, April 20, and are approximately 5 per cent complete.

“Repainting road markings is a priority for the City in the spring to help drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to understand and navigate the roadways safely and efficiently,” says Gardiner. “We coordinate road marking with road resurfacing work, and to minimize traffic disruptions, lines on high traffic streets are painted at night.”

Crews paint road markings two to three times each year:

• Lane lines, edge lines and center lines are painted three times a year
• Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year
• Shared bike lanes markings (sharrows) and chevrons (near freeway ramps) are painted once a year
• Road markings are repainted if they are removed  due to paving, patching etc.

For the safety of workers, please slow down when approaching work zones or line painting vehicles, and give the workers the room they need to get the job done safely and efficiently.

For more information about line painting visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

For Immediate Release:  May 6, 2015
FR15-107

Based on resident feedback and system generated data, the notifynow test conducted on May 5th was a success according to Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO). The majority of residents who called the EMO following the test recognized that notifynow is an important life safety service which is being tested twice a year and is a trusted tool that will notify them of important emergencies in their neighbourhood.

One of the goals of the May 5th test was to familiarize Saskatoon residents with the sound of an emergency notification and demonstrate how it will display on their phones so in a real emergency they will trust that the information is coming from a reputable source and act on it. This test showed that notifynow reached 101,334 contact points within approximately one hour. If, for example, the EMO was instructed to issue an immediate shelter in place order to 1,600 homes in a specific neighbourhood, notifynow could deliver that message in approximately three minutes.

The City of Saskatoon EMO continues to encourage Saskatoon residents to sign up for notifynow. Residents listed in the SaskTel 2014/2015 phonebook are already in the database however, they must sign up to receive notifications at more than one address or via e-mail, text, or cell phone call. There have been more than 1,495 new notifynow sign ups since the 2015 spring campaign launched on May 3rd.

notifynow is not a news service, but a life safety service that will rapidly send critical life safety messages to Saskatoon residents who would potentially be affected in an emergency. Sign up by visiting saskatoon.ca and clicking on the ‘Find out more’ button under the notifynow advertisement on the homepage.

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.

City of Saskatoon (City) crews are working on reducing mosquito populations this spring through the annual mosquito control campaign.  Due to the warm April weather, mosquitos are developing faster than in recent years; however, drier conditions have led to less mosquito habitat.  The mosquitoes currently being controlled are nuisance mosquitoes.  Mosquito control will continue throughout the summer and will also control Culex tarsalis, the mosquito that is the primary carrier for the West Nile virus in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon residents can assist with reducing mosquito populations, including Culex tarsalis, by eliminating standing water on their property.  Mosquito larvae can develop in any water, even small amounts that are allowed to stand for four days or more.  To help control the mosquito population, you can:

• Remove any standing water from your property;
• Ensure items in and around the property like pool covers, saucers under flower pots, children’s toys, pet bowls, and wading pools are regularly emptied or replaced with clean water;
• Clean eavestroughs regularly so water does not collect in them;
• Empty and clean bird baths twice weekly;
• Ensure openings in rain barrels are covered with mosquito screening; and
• Ensure your yard is free of debris, such as old tires that can hold rainwater.

For more information on the City’s mosquito control program, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/pests.

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 Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) is pleased to announce the release of the vision for the P4G Regional Plan (Regional Vision).

This Regional Vision has been created in collaboration with political leaders and administrators from the partnering municipalities - the Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville, and Warman, the Town of Osler, and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Corman Park, as well as an advisory representative from the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).

The Vision reads:  Our vision for the future is a vibrant, prosperous, and internationally competitive region. We are known for a high quality of life; a thriving and diverse economy; healthy and connected ecosystems; and efficient infrastructure supporting sustainable growth and development. The five municipalities of the Region - Osler, Martensville, Warman, Saskatoon, and the RM of Corman Park - provide a rich range of opportunities and lifestyle choices for residents and newcomers. The aesthetic beauty and ecological values of the South Saskatchewan River and prairie landscapes are key components to our quality of life. We work in partnership on issues of common interest through integrated, coordinated efforts that support our success while respecting the individual aspirations of all partners.

The Regional Vision, available online at www.partnershipforgrowth.ca, also includes six overarching guiding principles to be pursued under the Plan, as well as seven primary strategic directions that will shape the focus of regional action by the P4G.

The goal of the Plan is to ensure each of the five partnering municipalities can benefit from growth opportunities, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs by working together. The Plan, which is expected to be completed by mid-2016, will consist of plans for land use, transportation, infrastructure, and servicing. It will also outline the strategies needed for implementation and propose new governance and administrative structures for the region.

Stay tuned! Public open houses on the Regional Plan are being planned for June 2015. Citizens can also connect with P4G online at www.partnershipforgrowth.ca, on Twitter (@P4G_YXE_Region) or Facebook (facebook.com/partnershipforgrowth).

For more Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) Announcements and News Releases, visit www.partnershipforgrowth.ca or connect with the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth on Twitter and Facebook.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

WARMAN RD NB & SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED BETWEEN PRIMROSE DR & 51ST ST/LENORE DR
(Concrete repairs)
Start: May 5, 9:00 a.m. End: May 5, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST W WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM AVE C S TO AVE D S
(Crane lift)
Start: May 5, 10:00 a.m. End: May 5, 12:00 p.m.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) will be conducting another semi-annual, city-wide test of the notifynow mass notification system Tuesday, May 5, 2015, starting at 6:00 p.m.

The purpose of the test is to give residents an opportunity to better understand the notifynow system, to let people hear what a notifynow message will sound like, and to encourage people to sign-up. 

Residents who have already signed up to receive notifynow messages, or who have their phone number listed in the 2014/15 SaskTel Phonebook should expect to be contacted during the notifynow test tomorrow.

Similar to other tests, persons receiving the notifynow test on a phone will hear a recorded message explaining this is only a test. 

Please note: because of the volume of calls going out during the test on Tuesday, and depending on your phone settings, there may be a voice message left. However, in a critical life or property safety emergency, a notifynow voice message with pertinent instructions will be left.

The notifynow system allows the City of Saskatoon to inform residents by sending a written or voice recorded safety message to their cellphone, home or business phone, or email - so they know what to do, where to go, and what to expect during an emergency. With the push of a button, notifynow can reach tens of thousands of Saskatoon residents with timely information on how they can ensure their personal safety and/or minimize damage to their property.

To sign-up for notifynow or to sign-in and customize the method of how you would like to receive your notifynow message, or to sign-up members of your family, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow or look under the Announcements section on our homepage.

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.

NEW

8TH ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) & CENTER LANE CLOSED AT MOSS AVE
(Connection work)
Start: May 4, 8:00 a.m. End: May 4, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

To coincide with the closure of University Bridge this Sunday, May 3, 2015, Saskatoon Transit will be launching a weekend shuttle service between the Downtown Terminal and Place Riel (University of Saskatchewan) for the duration of the project. Via the single open lane of University Bridge, this new #200 route will shuttle passengers every 15 minutes on weekends.

“This weekend shuttle route will help our customers get across the river quicker than ever,” says Acting Director of Saskatoon Transit, Trevor Bell. “It will also allow us to provide consistent service on those weekends when the University Bridge closes to all authorized vehicles including Transit.”

It’s expected that the single lane of traffic being maintained for authorized users, including Transit buses, will close for 6 to 8 weekends over the course of the project to conduct work that extends over all bridge lanes. During full closure weekends, Transit will continue to offer the #200 route via Broadway Bridge.

“Weekend Transit riders can expect this alternate route across the Broadway Bridge to add about 10 minutes to their commute,” continues Bell. “In order to make this delay as short as possible, we’ve made the shuttle an express route on full closure weekends. This means the shuttle will only stop at the Downtown Terminal, Broadway and 12th, and at Place Riel.”

During full closure weekends, some Transit users will be directed to use an alternate stop either across the street or down the block. Customer service agents will be on-hand to assist Transit riders throughout the summer and standard Transit redirect signage will be posted at any impacted stops.

The alternate shuttle via Broadway will be in effect this Sunday as the bridge will be fully closed for construction set-up. From now until the end of the University Bridge project, Transit customers can check to see if the alternate shuttle via Broadway is in effect by visiting either transit.saskatoon.ca/bridge or by following @stoontransit on Twitter.