News Releases

The City of Saskatoon is asking for your opinion on potential changes to the optional Green Cart program to help us better understand the wants, needs and expectations of our residents.  A short online survey is open until July 8 to interested residents who currently do not subscribe to the Green Cart program. Visit Saskatoon.ca/GreenCart for the survey link.

Current subscribers to the Green Cart program will be contacted by email or phone to complete a separate survey.

The City of Saskatoon continues to explore innovative waste management practices.  Engaging with residents will help to ensure that the viewpoints and values of citizens are included in the City’s decision-making process.

Subscriptions for the optional 2015 Green Cart program were accepted until June 1.  This year, approximately 5,700 households subscribed, an increase of 46% over 2014.

If you missed the June 1 deadline for the program, there are other ways to keep yard waste out of your black garbage cart.  The City’s compost depots are open for residents to drop off their leaves, grass and non-elm branches and tree trimmings free of charge.  For locations and hours, visit Saskatoon.ca/compostdepots. And for home composters, the City offers a $20 rebate to residents who purchase a compost bin from a Saskatoon retailer in 2015.  Visit Saskatoon.ca/homecomposting for information.

For information on the optional Green Cart program, the Compost Depots and home composting, including a $20 rebate on the purchase of a new home compost bin, visit Saskatoon.ca/GreenCart.

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.

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The National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism is on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.  In recognition, flags at all City of Saskatoon facilities will fly at half-mast for the day.

The National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, recognized every year in Canada on June 23rd, marks the anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 bombing which happened off the coast of Ireland.  Flags across Canada are flown at half-mast to honour the victims of the bombing, as well as other acts of terrorist violence that have taken lives of Canadians.

In 2015, the Saskatoon Fire Department has responded to 168 hazardous material emergency calls. These calls vary from a tank leaking, to a large spill of a known substance to determining the best way to handle an unknown substance/s.

In a hazardous material incident, the Saskatoon Fire Department’s focus is on keeping people and property safe. We keep people safe by establishing hot, warm and cold zones around the incident. Our work to protect property can take many forms such as covering drains, shutting off valves and/or diking an area. During a hazardous materials incident, emergency crews will often work with provincial and municipal agencies to mitigate the threat. Once that is completed, the work is transferred to a private company for cleanup.

When a 9-1-1 call comes in alerting us to a hazardous good spill, a fire truck from the closest station is dispatched along with specially trained firefighters and equipment from Fire Stations No. 7 (3350 Wanuskewin Road) and No. 9 (870 Attridge Drive).

The first arriving crew will move people a safe distance away and gather information. When the hazardous material and decontamination crews arrive, they will use the gathered information to established hot, warm and cool zones, work to identify the substance, if needed, and mitigate the harm done to the environment. The size of the hot, warm and cool zones is based on the wind speed, time of day, weather vapour, moisture content, number of people in the area and volume of the release.

At some incidents, we know exactly what the hazardous material is before we ever arrive, other times that is not the case. When we are dealing with an unknown substance the initial zones will be large enough to cover the worst case scenario. Firefighters then don suits that provide them with the highest level of protection (Level A) and collect a sample to identify the material. Once the chemical and corresponding hazards are known the hot, warm and cool zones will be adjusted accordingly and a plan formulated to mitigate the risks.

The Saskatoon Fire Department is here to protect the citizens of Saskatoon during emergencies. In order to do that we have firefighters trained in fire safety as well as emergency medical response, dangerous goods, water rescue, and technical rescue.

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 Government of Saskatchewan will begin site preparation work in the coming weeks ahead of a rehabilitation project on the Highway 16 over Idylwyld Drive overpass to North Battleford.

The preparation work consists of building two cross-over structures that will allow two-way traffic in the eastbound lanes of Highway 16 while repairs are carried out on the westbound overpass. The construction of the cross-overs is expected to begin within the next few weeks. During this work there will be minor traffic restrictions.

The overpass rehabilitation work is then expected to begin in early July, at which point the following restrictions will be in place:

• Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions on Idylwyld Drive between 51st Street and 60th Street.
• Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions on Highway 16 between Idylwyld Drive and Marquis Drive.
• Temporary traffic signals will be installed to control Idylwyld Drive southbound and Highway 16 westbound traffic.

The Province is responsible for the planning and construction of the project which is expected last approximately three months. The City of Saskatoon will coordinate traffic control for the duration of the project.

As more information is provided, details of traffic detours can be found on our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Traffic Detour Service Alerts are available at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and you can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

For more information about the project visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads and view the Government of Saskatchewan’s News Release.

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.

NEW

SPADINA CRES E WB CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE S TO 20TH ST E
(Saskatchewan Jazz Festival)
Start: June 22, 7:00 a.m. End: July 7, 6:00 a.m.

22ND ST W WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT AVENUE P
(Resurfacing)
Start: June 22, 7:00 a.m. End: June 23, 6:00 p.m.

4TH AVE S NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM BROADWAY AVE TO 20TH ST E
(Sign Installation)
Start: June 22, 8:00 a.m. End: June 25, 4:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 4TH ST W TO 6TH ST W
(Lighting repair)
Start: June 22, 9:00 a.m. End: June 22, 4:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM ADELAIDE ST TO 2ND ST
(Lighting repair)
Start: June 22, 9:00 a.m. End: June 22, 4:00 p.m.

8TH ST E EB CURB & CENTER LANE CLOSED BETWEEN EMERSON AVE & WALPOLE AVE
(Water leak repair)
Start: June 22, 9:00 a.m. End: June 22, 5:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: WARMAN RD NB CLOSED FROM PRIMROSE DR TO LENORE DR
(Road resurfacing)
Start: June 22, 6:00 p.m. End: June 23, 6:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED
(Bridge washing)
Start: June 22, 9:00 p.m. End: June 23, 5:00 a.m.

ONGOING

CONFEDERATION DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM LAURIER DR TO 22ND ST W
(Concrete work)
Start: June 18, 9:00 a.m. End: June 27, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 11 NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT VICTOR RD
(Stonebridge Interchange construction)
Start: June 15, 10:00 a.m. End: July 6, 6:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED FROM SOMERS RD TO AGRA RD
(Force main installation)
Start: June 12, 9:00 a.m. End: July 8, 5:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB & SB  MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM 45TH ST W TO CYNTHIA ST
(Road construction)
Start: June 8, 9:00 a.m. End: June 29, 4:00 p.m.

HWY 11/16 EB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane of traffic will be maintained on the WB overpass.
Start: May 18, 7:00 a.m. End: Tentative - August 7, 5:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Full closure for authorized vehicles this weekend
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 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.