News Releases

The City has received provincial funding for a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) on 25^th Street near Pacific Avenue. The RRFB is being installed today.

“This is an existing crossing on a busy street that did not have flashing lights to alert drivers that a pedestrian is crossing or ready to cross,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “The beacons are mounted on posts at the side of a street and a ground-mounted push button activates the lights.”

RRFBs are installed under a solar panel at the top of the post that provides power. They have proven to be effective in getting the attention of Saskatoon drivers.

The 25^th Street beacon is similar to the one at Spadina Crescent and 33^rd Street. The City plans to install more at several other locations.

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded twice annually. The City plans to continue submitting funding applications to improve safety at other intersections and school zones throughout Saskatoon.

The City is proceeding with several key construction projects this summer while making the health and safety of employees, contractors and residents its top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council has endorsed a revised 2020 Capital Construction Program, so that Saskatoon continues to have a safe and reliable network of roads and utility infrastructure.

“After re-evaluating all planned projects for this year and by making adjustments to typical safety procedures, we have determined that we can move forward with the majority of those projects," says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “We will be evaluating all projects as they proceed while continuing to follow provincial public health orders and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

Approximately 4,611 metres of new water main will be installed in areas where the current infrastructure is in immediate need of replacement. On 8th Street, water mains will be replaced under the east bound lanes between Sommerfeld Avenue and Arlington Avenue. Water main replacements are also planned on sections of Clarence Avenue between College Drive and 8th Street. Under Garvie Road, a new primary water main will be installed that will service the neighbourhoods of Evergreen and Aspen Ridge.

In addition to annual street maintenance programs such as pothole repair, line painting and street sweeping, the City is planning 185 lane kilometers of road construction. Work includes reconstruction following all water main replacements, but also resurfacing and micro surfacing throughout the city. Locations include:

• College Drive/Highway 5 westbound from Highway 41 to the CP Rail overpass (resurfacing)
• Taylor Street from Heritage Crescent to McKercher Drive (resurfacing)
• Boychuk Drive north bound from Briarwood Road to 8th Street (resurfacing)
• Central Avenue from College Drive to 107th Street (resurfacing)
• Circle Drive from College Drive overpass to 14th Street (resurfacing)   
• Circle Drive west bound from Avenue C to Laurier Drive (micro surfacing)

The second and final phase of the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation resumed in March and will be complete this fall. Improvements include a wider walkway with taller barriers, a new drainage system and new asphalt.

“Roads really matter to the people of Saskatoon. Construction projects result in sound infrastructure and they help boost the economy by providing jobs,” Schmidt says. “In this unprecedented time, we are adjusting and will re-adjust our practices as necessary to get this important work done. We are working with our employees and our contractors to ensure they are implementing and following protocols at construction sites to protect everyone’s safety.”

City Council is investing more than $61 million for road rehabilitation and maintenance to make Saskatoon’s streets, bridges and sidewalks, smoother, safer and longer-lasting.

The City of Saskatoon appreciates everyone’s patience during construction. We know it can be a real “pain in the asphalt.”

More information about 2020 construction projects is available at Saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

With the economy slowly re-opening, City, health and community leaders are concerned too many people are gathering in public places – actions that risk spreading COVID-19 in our community.

“We have seen too many people not following the Public Health Orders and beginning to gather in groups in parks and open spaces. This risks us losing the progress we have made in saving lives and keeping the community safe,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“Even though the weather is warm and the first phase of re-opening is ahead, the risk of outbreaks remains very real.”

Mayor Clark says Saskatoon and Saskatchewan have collectively shown tremendous leadership in containing the spread of COVID-19.  

“Our continued success hinges on everyone working together. We must all be smart and safe about physical distancing measures.”

A community health expert suggests everyone must keep the Public Health Orders top of mind.

“As the plan to re-open our province and our city unfolds, we need to maintain the changes we have made to how we work, play, live and learn,” says Dr. Jasmine Hasselback Medical Health Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “We are just starting to enter the next round of this fight against COVID-19, which means we need to be more vigilant than ever.”

Dr. Hasselback reminds everyone must continue routinely washing their hands for 20 seconds, not touch the nose, mouth or eyes; avoid interactions with those outside their own households, stay home when ill and call HealthLine 811 or their doctor as appropriate.

“It also means that even though the weather is nicer and you may want to be outside, we still have to maintain physical distancing – stay two meters away from anyone who is not a member of your own household or your virtual household to keep yourself and others safe.”

As Director of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization, Pamela Goulden-McLeod has been helping guide the City’s COVID-19 response since January.  She warns too many people are quickly placing their family and neighbours’ health in jeopardy.

“If we begin to let down our guard thinking everything is back to normal we could erase all the good work we’ve done as a community,” she says.

“We cannot gather in large numbers and we have to spread out. This is the very best way to stop infections. It will protect our front-line health and essential service providers – the people who keep our community running.”

Starting next week, to help everyone enjoy the more than 200 parks in Saskatoon, Recreation Staff will be redeployed as Physical Distancing Ambassadors to eight areas of the city.  They will make sure signage and barriers are in place at approximately 250 playgrounds, and replace supplies as needed. Each week, every playground and adjacent park area will get checked.

While out in the parks and sports fields, the Ambassadors will also be promoting and providing public education on the importance of physical distancing while using Saskatoon’s outdoor public places, and to remind everyone that organized sports or games with groups of people are still not permitted.

Meewasin, which oversees the river valley including some of Saskatoon’s most popular trail and natural areas inside and outside the city also stresses the importance of physical distancing.

“We are so happy that the community has the opportunity to use our rural and urban sites for hiking and accessing the river but it is imperative that everyone adheres to restrictions on group sizes and only attends with members of their household. Safety is the top priority,” explains CEO Andrea Lafond.

“Meewasin’s goal is to work with community and government to continue to flatten the curve for COVID-19 and do everything we can to support healthy use of outdoor spaces.”

While public safety is at the forefront for the Saskatoon Police Service, it has a community reminder.

“Our officers are responsible for ensuring members of the public are adhering to the restrictions outlined in the Public Health Orders,” says Supt. Randy Huisman.  “With the arrival of warmer weather we are responding to increasing reports of violations and paying special attention to gathering sizes and social distancing.  Failing to meet the public health guidelines can result in sizable fines.”

Please visit saskatoon.ca/covid19 for timely updates from the City of Saskatoon on everything you need to know to stay safe. For more on the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan please click here.

City Council has endorsed a plan to maintain core services while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will be using a combination of spending reductions and utilization of the City’s stabilization reserves to offset a significant portion of the deficit” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson. “The strategy does not rely on a further tax increase to address this deficit. We will continue discussions with other orders of government on possible assistance.”

If there is a remaining deficit that is not covered by relief packages, the City will consider making adjustments to the 2021 operating and capital budgets.

One key service that will be delivered in typical fashion is the street sweeping program. This year, due to a late start to the program because of a late spring melt and different operating processes due to COVID-19, the program will take a little longer – into July to finish rather than the usual June end date.

Additionally, the 2020 budgeted construction projects will go forward this year.

However, most water projects with lead line replacements will be deferred until later this year or to 2021 says Terry Schmidt, General Manager, Transportation and Construction.

“We will take a look later this summer to see how people may be adjusting to the pandemic, and make a determination of whether it makes sense to proceed with the lead line replacement program,” Schmidt says. “If it’s not possible, we will defer until next year.”

Council supported the overall recommendation to continue with budgeted construction projects for the 2020 season.

“We need to keep City assets in shape,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “We’re looking at some $390 million in financial activity to keep the economy going and businesses being able to hire people.”

In compliance of the Public Health Order, the City continues to work with its partners in the construction industry to ensure appropriate physical distancing and other appropriate safety measures are in place at such work sites.