News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
City preserving roadways through resurfacing
July 11, 2019 - 2:40am
- Circle Drive and Millar Avenue intersection
- Circle Drive east bound lanes from Millar Avenue to the Circle Drive North Bridge
- College Drive west bound lanes from Highway 41 to the CP Rail overpass
- Idylwyld Drive north bound lanes from 25th Street to 31st Street
- Preston Avenue north bound lanes from Taylor Street to 8th Street
- 33rd Street from Confederation Drive to Junor Avenue
- Taylor Street from Boychuk Drive to Brudell Road
The City of Saskatoon is resurfacing several high traffic roadways this summer. Resurfacing helps the roads last longer, improves drainage, and makes surfaces look brand new.
“Resurfacing is a road restoration technique in which a new layer of asphalt is laid over the existing road surface,” says Tim Bushman, Engineering Manager, Construction & Design. “Roads are preserved without having to do a full replacement.”
2019 resurfacing locations include:
Crews will work at night at locations where the noise won’t be disruptive to residents.
“We understand construction and the delays and detours that sometimes occur can be an inconvenience, but we do our best to avoid a lot of work in one area at the same time,” says Bushman. “To see where significant 2019 road construction projects are happening and when, residents can keep an eye on the Daily Road Report at Saskatoon.ca.”
City Council has invested over $61 million in 2019 for rehabilitation, maintenance and operations to make more Saskatoon streets, bridges and sidewalks, smoother, safer and longer-lasting.
We appreciate everyone’s patience during construction. We know it can be a real ‘pain in the asphalt.’
City lowers flags in recognition of passing of Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov.
July 2, 2019 - 7:50am
The City has lowered flags in civic facilities in honour of Saskatchewan’s 22nd Lieutenant-Governor, W. Thomas Molloy, who passed away on July 2 following a battle with cancer.
“I had the real privilege of sharing many meals and stages with Lieutenant-Governor Tom Molloy over the last several months,” said Mayor Clark. “He used every speech as a chance to enlighten, to challenge, and to bring us together, to be stronger as a province. He did this throughout his career, right across the country. I thank him for always working to bring out the best in us.”
Flags in civic facilities will fly at half-mast until sunset on the day of Lieutenant-Governor Molloy’s funeral. For members of the public who wish to express their condolences, a condolence book will be available in the lobby of City Hall during regular business hours.
It’s the law! Slow to 30 km/hr in work zones
July 2, 2019 - 3:58am
The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Police Service remind drivers to slow down when passing work zones and obey posted signs. To reduce speeding in work zones, City crews will start using temporary speed signs slowing people to 30 km/hr within the work zone on some roads where the speed limit is normally 50 km/hr.
“Even with bright clothing, barricades and signs, drivers continue to risk the lives of our road workers when they drive into equipment, between signs, and speed past without care and attention,” said General Manager Angela Gardiner. “By identifying and posting a temporary speed, it makes the expectation to slow down pretty clear.”
Hundreds of men and women work hard every day to provide Saskatoon residents with services that matter: from drinking water and sewer services, to smooth roads, clean and maintained parks and utility services. But at what cost? Too many drivers continue to ignore work zone signs and put lives at risk.
“It’s not only the law, but the responsibility of every driver to obey work zone signs,” said Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar. “The Traffic Unit will be patrolling work zones, reminding people to slow down, and charging drivers who insist on putting lives in danger by speeding.”
The new 30 km/hr construction zone signs will be rolled out over the next few months for City crews working on local streets. Regardless of whether a temporary speed sign is posted, drivers can be fined by Police for speeding or entering a work zone. Police have asked City workers to report these incidents.
The City’s annual Respect Work Zones public awareness campaign started today, in partnership with the Saskatoon Police Service, stressing that drivers must slow down in a work zone and obey signs. Advertisements include testimonials from real workers talking about their close calls s with drivers in City work zones.
Learn more at saskatoon.ca/respectworkzones.ca.
Saskatoon Transit art contest winners revealed
June 25, 2019 - 3:25am
Saskatoon Transit unveiled two new pieces of artwork for the 2nd Saskatoon Transit Student Art Contest. The contest was open to all grade 3 and 7 students in Saskatoon.
“This is a great opportunity for elementary school students to see a piece of artwork, created by someone just like them, on the side of a transit bus. This is a way to honour the creative work they do and be a part of the growing Active Transportation culture in Saskatoon” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.
Grade 7 student, Avery from St. Philip School and grade 3 student, Kinsey from Saskatoon French School are this year’s best of show winners. The winning pieces were chosen by the Remai Modern’s Learning and Engagement Manager, Kelly Van Damme based on how well they reflected the “Active Transportation” theme.
“Walking, and sometimes cycling, is the beginning and end of each transit trip,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “By combining an active trip with a transit trip, people are able to make trips that are farther than they may be able to walk or bike.”
“Students can be incredibly insightful, and we can learn a lot from the creative ways in which they communicate that insight,” said Darcie Lich, the coordinator who oversees fine arts education at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. “The ideas they express through their art can be good lessons for us on how to be more active, how to be more engaged in our communities and how to make simple little decisions that help us live more sustainably. Thank you to all students who participated, and congratulations to the winners”
The winning artwork will be displayed on the side of Saskatoon Transit buses traveling across Saskatoon throughout the summer.
“At Saskatoon Public Schools, we encourage our students and families to explore active transportation for their commute to school. The Student Art Contest complements this work by allowing our students to creatively explore and envision their community while learning about active transportation,” said Paul Janzen, Superintendent of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools.
“This art contest helps plant the seed at a young age of how public transportation works as part of Active Transportation and that it is a viable and sustainable option in our city” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.
City council supports orderly & sustainable neighbourhood development
June 25, 2019 - 2:52am
City Council has directed the Administration not to accelerate the Solair Neighbourhood project into the Holmwood Suburban Development Area.
Currently the proposed development lands are mostly outside Saskatoon City Limits and not in the development stream for any immediate city development.
Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Transportation and Construction, says the Civic Administration works hard to support developers and to create a business-friendly community.
“We completely respect and appreciate the goals of such a business and these companies need to make money on their developments; however, that cannot be done on the backs of taxpayers, or at the expense of other developers,” Gardiner says. “We have an obligation to ensure Saskatoon develops in a fair and predictable manner for all developers.
“We also need to make sure the multi-million-dollar underground services – water, sewer, storm water, power, and communications – work properly and are constructed in a cost-effective way.”
Arbutus Properties has proposed a development of lands that are outside city limits southeast of Saskatoon that it says could be a future neighborhood.
The proposal has concepts that support many of the City’s environmental and development goals, but the civic Administration suggests the developer try a different approach.
“We would be very interested to see Arbutus implement some of the eco-friendly concepts it has proposed within the extensive undeveloped lands they own in Rosewood.”
Gardiner says there are multiple billion-dollar private developments already underway in Saskatoon.
“Adding another development will not attract additional housing demand in the City: it will simply take away demand from areas where City Council has already made significant investments.”
Council has also asked the Administration to report back on any possible ways to expand oversight or regulation around environmental features of new neighbourhood development.
-30-