News Releases

Two key intersections are scheduled for improvements in the coming weeks to help lessen traffic congestion, increase accessibility and ultimately improve safety. 

The Intersection Improvement Project Selection Process was created last year to prioritize key intersections that would benefit from improvements. This year, the intersections of Warman Road and 51st Street as well as Diefenbaker Drive and 22nd Street are in need of better safety measures and traffic flow.

“The intersection of Warman Road and 51st Street will be part of the North Commuter Parkway route scheduled to open in 2018,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “We know traffic patterns at this intersection are going to change when the bridge opens. So, work is being done in advance to ensure this area is ready to safely handle these changes.” 

Diefenbaker Drive and 22nd Street is also identified as an intersection that can expect significant changes in traffic volume, with eastbound and westbound traffic volumes expected to more than double in the coming years due to growth in the city. In addition, 22nd Street has also been identified as a likely bus rapid transit corridor so upgrades to this intersection will address pedestrian access and improve traffic flow and safety. 

Work on the intersections will include the modification of medians, the addition of left hand turn bays, moving of street lights, culvert modifications to improve water flow, and new pedestrian islands that will be larger with ramps for crossing in all directions. Work is scheduled to begin on the Diefenbaker Drive intersection on August 29. Work on the Warman Road intersection starts September 6 with both projects scheduled to be completed the week of November 10.

“While not as significant as in previous years, safe and easy to use roadways continue to be the top priority for people in Saskatoon,” Gardiner says. “With fewer people identifying it as their number one issue, that tells us we are making progress on our roadways and traffic management.”

Alluding to year-over-year results in the Civic Services Survey, Gardiner says it shows the City is meeting its goal of continuous improvement.

“The Civic Services Survey reflects a trend that the public is more satisfied with sidewalk maintenance, the maintenance of major roadways, freeways, back lanes and streets in community neighbourhoods.”

Gardiner points out public satisfaction is also up in how the City manages traffic flow and signage.  

“Our goal is to lessen traffic congestion, improve accessibility and ultimately improve safety. We know from the survey our investment is definitely making a difference.”

For results of the Civic Services Survey please see pages 18 & 21 (of the survey document).

For more details on the Intersection Improvement Project, please visit saskatoon.ca/intersectionimprovements.

As always, residents are reminded to slow down, pay attention and obey signage around work zones at all times. For more information, please visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads. 

From the August 18, 2016 Regular Meeting of City Council

8.1.10 Kinsmen Play Village – Play Structure

Decision

*Administration will start on the design and purchase of accessible playground equipment for Caswell Hill with installation to be completed no later than June 2017 to be funded from the Reserve for Capital Expenditures to a maximum of $253,000, to include the remedial work at Kinsmen Play Village.
*Gates to the Kinsmen Play Village play structure be reopened, following appropriate safety checks.
*The Kinsmen Park Master Plan will be amended to retain certain elements of the Kinsmen Play Village, such that the play structure is retained.

Additional Information

*At the August 15, 2016 meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services, a report was considered, along with presentations and further communications.

9.3.1 Saskatoon Strides – 2015 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*The City is committed to continue to explore and implement new ways to improve service, increase savings, and grow Saskatoon in a sustainable way. Saskatoon Strides - 2015 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability highlights the City’s accomplishments in each of these areas for 2015.

9.3.2 2015 Annual Report – Sustaining the Saskatoon Advantage

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*The 2015 Annual Report – Sustaining the Saskatoon Advantage includes a summary of the progress achieved on the 2015 Corporate Business Plan, as well as the 2015 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Trust Fund Financial Statements.

9.6.3 2016 Local Government Elections – Amendments to Bylaw No. 8191, The Election Bylaw, 2012

Decision

*City Council amended and passed.

Additional Information

*The amendments to the Bylaw update references to the new legislation and new section numbers. They also provide for procedures related to the programming, use, storage and transport of vote counting machines and the counting of votes necessitated by the new legislation.

August 17, 2016 Meeting

8.1.1 Saskatoon Municipal Review Commission Elections Committee Recommendations – Request of Amend Legislation

Decision

*The Committee received the report as information.

Additional Information

*In accordance with City Council’s instructions in January, the City Solicitor communicated with the Province requesting various amendments to The Local Government Election Act and The Cities Act. A response was received from the Province and the report summarizes the Province’s response.

From the August 16, 2016 Meeting

7.1.2 Water Supply – Alternate Water Source

Decision

*The Committee received the report as information.

Background

*The Water Treatment Plant has many redundancy and contingency plans within the water treatment process; however, the South Saskatchewan River is currently the only water supply.
*There are several pipelines that transport crude oil, refined petroleum, and liquid natural gas across the South Saskatchewan River between Saskatoon and Lake Diefenbaker.
*Through the Emergency Measures Organization, the City has an extensive emergency plan that is able to assess a situation and escalate quickly when warranted. A Drinking Water Quality Emergency Response Plan is in place as well.
*There are several areas that an alternative water source could be considered, such as natural or engineered bodies of surface water, multiple aquifers, and the North Saskatchewan River.
*Administration will be investigating various alternative water sources and reporting the results in 2017.

From the August 16, 2016 Meeting

7.1.1 North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge Update

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The Bridging to Tomorrow Project includes the construction of the North Commuter Parkway and replacement of the Traffic Bridge. Graham Commuter Partners (GCP) is the contractor in charge of construction. Both bridges and surrounding road infrastructure is slated for completion in October of 2018.
*At the Traffic Bridge, concrete work on Pier 3 as well as the foundations and walls for the new north and south abutments are complete. The erection of Span 4, the southernmost span of the bridge, is anticipated to start within the next few weeks.
*GCP will use conventional weathering steel with a protective coating within the splash zone for the truss elements which will result in a two tone colour between the lower and upper portions of the structure. The entire bridge will eventually turn into one brown colour tone.
*Demolition of the last original bridge span of the Traffic Bridge is expected in November 2016.
*At the North Commuter Parkway bridge, construction of Pier 1, the west pier, is well underway, with the pier foundation, diaphragm, and columns already complete, and construction of the pier cap currently underway. The cofferdam was extended from the west bank to the centre of the river in late July and excavation work is underway to prepare for construction of Pier 2.
*Storm sewer installation for the widening of Central Avenue between Attridge Drive and Fedoruk Drive is nearing completion and the relocation of the SL&P overhead lines has started.
*Improvements to the intersection of Attridge Drive and Central Avenue, and the realignment of the eastbound off-ramp from Circle Drive East to Attridge Drive, commenced in May and are expected to be fully complete in October.

7.1.3 Launch of FlexParking System Application

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The smart phone app will be publicly launched in November pending final testing. Implementation has been delayed to verify data security procedures.

7.2.1 Award of Contract - HOK Inc. for the Development of Idylwyld Drive Comprehensive Corridor Project and Streetscape Concept

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that the award of contract for $183,708 (including taxes) be approved. It is for the development of the Idylwyld Drive Comprehensive Corridor Project and Streetscape Concept.

Background

*In January of 2014, City Council received a report that identified Idylwyld Drive, from Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to Circle Drive North, as a priority street for streetscape improvements. The report stated that redevelopment of the Idylwyld Drive streetscape would enhance its functionality as a multi-modal corridor and support recommendations and directions emerging from current planning projects (City Centre Plan, North Downtown, and Growth Plan). The report identified a phased approach to implementation that would prioritize improvements from Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to 33rd Street.