News Releases

Residents are invited to cool off this summer at any of the 17 spray pads located around the city!  Summer spray pads will open for the season on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 10 a.m. and will be operational daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through to Monday, September 1, 2014.

The opening of Silverwood Heights Spray Pad, located in WJL Harvey Park (290 Russell Road), will be delayed due to maintenance repairs.  For updates on the scheduled opening, please refer to the interactive map at www.saskatoon.ca/go/playgrounds.

Please note, spray pad sites located on or near school grounds have timers and are set to turn spray features off during recess and lunch breaks.  Shut-off times will vary according to individual school schedules.

To find a spray pad location near you, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/playgrounds or call 306-975-3378.

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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IDYLWYLD DRIVE TO 25TH STREET EASTBOUND, JUNE 2-23

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, the right turn lane from Idylwyld Drive northbound to 25th Street eastbound will be closed to traffic as crews begin Phase 1 of streetscaping for the 25th Street Extension. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to 24th Street.

The work is expected to take three weeks.

33RD STREET EASTBOUND FROM STEEVES AVENUE TO HUGHES DRIVE, JUNE 2-4

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, the new 33rd Street eastbound lanes from Steeves Avenue to the merging point approaching Hughes Drive will be closed while crews work on street lighting on the new road.

The old 33rd Street eastbound median (inside) lane will also be closed from the merging point to Hughes Drive.

A detour will be in place. The work is expected to last 3 days. 

SPADINA CRESCENT FROM BALMORAL STREET TO WINDSOR STREET, JUNE 2

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, Spadina crescent will be closed in both directions between Balmoral Street and Windsor Street to accommodate a house move. The road is expected to reopen by 11:00 a.m. the same day. A detour will be in place.

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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Great things are happening through the improved Street Sweeping program this spring! Enhancements were added this year to the spring blitz, with funding through the dedicated road levy, based on learning from similar programs in the fall and winter.

“With the city growing so quickly, the way we operate our street maintenance programs is changing to provide the best service possible,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “We want to thank residents for their patience and feedback, resulting in some great programs and a clean city.”

New this year are the yellow No Parking signs used to notify drivers of scheduled sweeping dates. Compliance from residents moving their vehicles to accommodate street sweeping allows the City to focus on cleaning the entire roadway quickly and efficiently. To date, parking compliance has been increasing as people become familiar with the signage. 

A new process for cleaning Circle Drive involving up to 18 vehicles at a time was introduced this spring. Additional pilot vehicles and signage allow the City to focus on safety of the workers and drivers. “The work is only done at night to minimize interference with traffic and we’re pleased to report that the program is 26 per cent complete,” says Hyde.

Also new this year is evening sweeping in the school zones.  This program begins June 2 and residents will be notified in advance with yellow No Parking signs.  The area between the School Zone signs is not swept during the daytime accelerated residential street sweeping for the safety of the students and visitors to the schools. 

The street sweeping schedule, Frequently Asked Questions and map of neighbourhoods is available at saskatoon.ca under the Building Better Roads icon. 

If wet or windy weather delays sweeping, the scheduled neighbourhood will be rescheduled and new No Parking signs will be posted in advance to notify residents and the schedule will be updated on the website.

Drivers are reminded to be patient and to drive carefully when they encounter slow moving street-sweeping vehicles.  You may also contact the 24-hour Street Sweeping Hotline at 306-975-2476 or streetsweep@saskatoon.ca.

The Saskatoon Field House experienced some flooding in the track area following the overnight rain storm.  The main field and track will be closed for the rest of the day and as a result, all programs scheduled on the track must be cancelled.

The weight room, childcare, fitness dance studio, multi-purpose room and meeting room #2 will remain open to the public.  All programs on the second floor will proceed as scheduled.

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Field House thank patrons for their cooperation.

The Lakewood Civic Centre, Shaw Centre, Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, Lawson Civic Centre, Cosmo Civic Centre and the Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track will maintain regular hours during this time.

For information on the programming and services affected, please contact the Saskatoon Field House at 306-975-3354 or visit drop-in online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

For programming information, please refer to www.saskatoon.ca and look under “L” for Leisure Centre Drop-In Schedules.

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.

For Release: May 29, 2014

The City of Saskatoon will launch new.saskatoon.ca to kick off public engagement activities for the new Saskatoon website redesign.  This site will be used as the hub to communicate about the progress of the project and to gather input from residents.

“Public involvement is key to a successful redesign of the City of Saskatoon website,” says the City’s Website Project Manager, Rob Gilhuly.  “We wanted to create an online space that provides users with the information they need to quickly get involved and participate in the website development process,” Gilhuly says.

To help build a better website, the City will be asking for feedback at multiple stages throughout the website development process. Residents will be able to participate in decisions relating to navigation, design, usability and online services.  In addition to gathering input, new.saskatoon.ca will also be revealing the new website as it’s being built.

Saskatoon.ca will be designed to provide better online service to residents.  Ensuring that residents’ needs and expectations are reflected in the final result is critical to the project’s success.

The City encourages all residents to visit the project engagement site, new.saskatoon.ca for project updates and to get involved.

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 following restrictions will be in place overnight Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30 while crews inspect underground utilities. The restrictions will be lifted immediately following the completion of the utility inspections and may not be required for the entire timeframe listed.

- 8th Street eastbound closed from Broadway Avenue to Landsdowne Avenue. Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the westbound lanes

- Broadway Avenue northbound curb (outside) lane will be closed approaching 8th Street

To minimize disruption to traffic the work is scheduled to take place from 11:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., 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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

In light of recently published comments, the City must stress that affordability and efficiency in the City recycling program continues to be our focus.

“The City must stress it is not considering increased fees as a result of some people stealing recyclables from Loraas blue bins,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives.  “The City and Loraas along with the Saskatoon Police Service are working together on solutions.”

The issue which concerns the City is the possibility of coordinated criminal activity: an organized effort of a few individuals to systematically raid blue bins of high-value material such as deposit beverage containers. Loraas depends on this high-value material as a source of revenue for the program, so they can continue to sustain a successful and affordable program for citizens of Saskatoon.

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 heavy, super charged rain storm early Monday evening left many city streets and intersections flooded and looking like flowing rivers. 

Water on our city streets does not always indicate something is wrong, but actually is all part of a functional and cost effective storm water management system.  The City’s storm water system is designed to carry water along the streets and gutters during significant rain storms as what was experienced on Monday.

When flowing water occurs along the road surface we ask that residents avoid these areas.  Flooded streets can hide popped manhole covers and create a dangerous situation.  Try to avoid entering a flooded street. Water in the streets will often drain very quickly following a heavy rain so we ask residents to be patient. 

If your property is next to a street that is used for storm water in a significant rain event, consider protecting low lying areas such as windows and doors that may be at risk of flooding.

If you see manhole covers that have popped off during a rain storm, please call our Customer Service Dispatch at 306-975-2476.

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.

25TH STREET & 2ND AVENUE INTERSECTION, MAY 27 - 28

Overnight restrictions will be in place from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28, at the intersection of 25th Street and 2nd Avenue while crews work on water main valves. 

Tuesday, May 27

- 25th Street eastbound median (inside) lane will be closed approaching the intersection
- Left turn to 2nd Avenue northbound from 25th Street eastbound will be maintained
- 2nd Avenue northbound curb (outside) lane will be closed approaching the intersection 

Wednesday, May 28

- 25th Street eastbound median lane and left turn bay lane closed approaching the intersection
- 25th Street westbound left turn bay to 2nd Avenue southbound will be closed
- 2nd Avenue southbound through traffic will be restricted
- 2nd Avenue northbound left turn bay to 25th Street westbound will be closed

To minimize disruption to traffic this work will take place overnight.

CENTRAL AVENUE BETWEEN 111TH & 112TH STREETS, MAY 28

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, the following restrictions will be in place on Central Avenue while crews work on sanitary sewer connections.

- Central Avenue southbound lanes will be closed between 111th Street and 112th Street. A detour will be in place.
- Central Avenue northbound median (inside) lane will be closed between 111th Street and 112th Street.

The work is expected to last one day.

14TH STREET BETWEEN CIRCLE DRIVE AND ARLINGTON AVENUE, MAY 28-31

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 14th Street will be closed between Arlington Avenue and the southbound off ramp from Circle Drive while crews resurface the road.

The work is expected to last 4 days.

All restrictions are expected to be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

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

Know before you go! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

For the first time in recent history, the City will be ticketing and relocating vehicles for street sweeping in the Downtown/Partnership Business Improvement District (BID).  Sweepers have already been through the area as part of the Spring Sweeping Blitz program, which is designed to go around parked vehicles.  This year, with increased funding through the dedicated road levy, all four BIDs will be provided with one full curb-to-curb sweep.  In order to accomplish this, tickets will be issued for violators and their vehicles will be relocated to a nearby road.

In order to provide alternate parking for downtown patrons and residents, Downtown will be swept over two evenings, beginning with the Streets. 

White No Parking signs are being posted within the Downtown BID bordered by 25th Street, Spadina Crescent, 19th Street West and Idylwyld Drive North:

- Along the Streets for overnight sweeping on Wednesday (parking enforcement begins Thursday at 2:00 a.m.)

- Along the Avenues for overnight sweeping on Thursday (parking enforcement begins Friday at 2:00 a.m.)

- Due to high-density residential parking on 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue between 22nd Street and 25th Street, these roads will not be swept as part of the Downtown BID sweep, but will be scheduled for sweeping on another day.  Signs will be posted in advance to notify residents.

There are permanent street maintenance signs mounted on posts (as pictured) that outline parking restrictions from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. for the Streets and Avenues throughout the area, but because this program is new, we are supplementing them with the white paper No Parking signs (as pictured).  The temporary signs have a yellow card attached to them with contact information for the Street Sweeping Hotline, so residents may call 306-975-2476 for the location of their vehicle.  Drivers may also use the Find My Vehicle! database by clicking on the Building Better Roads logo at saskatoon.ca. 

More information about the Spring Street Sweeping and the Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping programs will be available on Thursday, May 26 at the weekly Building Better Roads media briefing.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #BetterRoadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.