News Releases

Saskatoon’s new interchange at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 is now officially complete.

The interchange opened to vehicles in late 2018. Surrounding work was just finished earlier this week to finalize the infrastructure project, which was funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Saskatchewan, and City of Saskatoon.

“This important traffic improvement project for Saskatoon is a great example of how the Government of Canada is making smart investments that contribute to economic growth and improve quality of life in order to foster a thriving middle class,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This new interchange is making daily commutes easier and safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and keeping commercial traffic flowing across the region.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a key role by contributing more than $10.9 million toward the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange Project. Investments in key infrastructure like this contributes to more efficient travel for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who live, work and play in Saskatoon,” said the Honourable Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations.

“This new interchange is a sign of a growing Saskatoon and it is an important step in creating a more connected community,” said His Worship Charlie Clark, Mayor of the City of Saskatoon. “It is already having a significant impact for those travelling in and through the south-east part of our city by improving safety, traffic flow, and the quality of life in our community. I would like to thank our federal and provincial partners for investing in this project.”

Construction began in April of 2017 on the project, which eliminated the eastbound left turn lane on Highway 16 at Boychuk Drive to resolve safety and traffic flow issues.

“There has been a substantial improvement in traffic flow, which had become heavier and backed up as Rosewood and other east side neighbourhoods developed and became populated,” said Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction with the City of Saskatoon.

Through the New Building Canada Fund – Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan each contributed $10,960,885 toward the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange Project. The City was responsible for the remaining investment.

Another new interchange at McOrmond Drive and College Drive officially opened earlier this year. Adjacent developers paid 100 per cent of its cost.

The two interchanges were simultaneously built by PCL Construction Management Inc., and both also include walkways and paths to make the areas safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Both interchanges were constructed for a total investment of $56,694,600.

The intersection at Idylwyld and 22^nd Street is expected to be closed until tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday July 31^st to allow for an emergency natural gas line repair.

In the meantime, drivers are advised to avoid 22^nd Street and consider east-west travel along 19^th Street, 20^th Street or 33^rd Street. Expect delays, plan ahead and re-route your commute.

This emergency work is necessary because on Monday evening July 29^th, firefighters closed the intersection after discovering a noticeable odour and high concentration of natural gas in the area.  SaskEnergy arrived and determined the gas was leaking from an underground valve.  The gas line workers were able to seal the leak but it now needs a more permanent fix.

Once the gas line is repaired the excavation site will be paved and the intersection will re-open. The paving work cannot be scheduled until the morning of Wednesday, July 31^st.  

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this necessary emergency work is completed.

Transit riders can follow Transit service alerts, real-time bus locations, and arrivals are available on third party apps like Transit and Google Transit on desktop.

For updates on construction projects anytime, refer to the Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Road users are reminded to reduce speeds, stay alert and mind posted signage and barriers when encountering a construction zone.

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After reviewing nine budget options brought forward by Administration, City Council at its regular meeting on July 29, 2019, selected six options to help achieve lower municipal property tax target increases of 3.94% for 2020 and 4.17% for 2021, as earlier directed by the City’s Governance and Priorities Committee.

“The options City Council approved result in lower property tax targets of 3.23% for 2020 and 3.54% for 2021,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “It’s important to emphasize these targets serve as a starting point. This early direction from City Council is not final, as they’ll have an opportunity for further debate through the City’s preliminary budget release this October.”

Administration was asked to report back on a list of prioritized projects with result to Gas Tax funding, options to reduce the number of print publications the City produces, and options for reducing the frequency of black cart pick-up in summer months.

City Council approved the following budget options: 

• Option 3 – a one-time Gas Tax allocation to the organics program (reduction to property tax phase-in from reduced debt by 0.13% in each of the years 2020 and 2021);
• Option 4 – utilize Multi-Material Stewardship Western funding towards the Waste deficit (reduction of 0.19% in each of the years 2020 and 2021);
• Option 5 – defer all bylaw/policy required inflationary allocations (reduction of 0.15% in 2020 and 0.17% in 2021);
• Option 6 – phase-in the Remai Civic Buildings Comprehensive Maintenance Reserve requirement over a longer period (reduction of 0.08% in 2020 and 0.04% in 2021);
• Option 7 – defer the Recovery Park funding phase-in until 2023 (reduction of 0.10% in 2021); and
• Option 8 – adjust the Major Transportation Funding/Bus Rapid Transit funding plan (reduction of 0.10% in each of the years 2020 and 2021).

The following budget option was defeated:

• Option 9 – changes to the Waste program deficit and city-wide organics phase-in (reduction of 0.21% in each of the years 2020 and 2021).

The following budget options did not have enough movers to move forward, thus they were received as information.

• Option 1 – reduce the inflation and growth increase allocated to the Building Better Roads Program (reduction of 0.8% in each of the years 2020 and 2021); and
• Option 2 – provision for civic services subsidized fee for service (reduction of 0.03% in 2020)

“In the months to come as we lead up to the release of our first preliminary Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, City Council will consider other information they’ve requested, along with additional options on capital projects, Asset Management Plans, service level changes and options to help accelerate achieving City Council’s strategic priorities,” adds Tarasoff.

The Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget will provide greater certainty for residents about the future direction of property taxes, better alignment of the City’s longer-term goals, and improved financial stability, transparency and accountability.

City Council will set the final budget and associated municipal property tax rate through the 2020/2021 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget Deliberations at the end of November 2019.

For more information on the City’s Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, visit saskatoon.ca/budget.

The Low Emissions Community (LEC) Plan is a thirty-year roadmap to help Saskatoon reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The LEC Plan – prepared by national consultants, Sustainability Solutions Group, and City Administration – identifies possible actions to mitigate community and corporate emissions as a way to slow the effects of climate change, leading to a decreased need for adaptive actions. The plan will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services, on August 6.

“Climate change is an extremely complex global issue that is facing Saskatoon and Canada” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The Low Emissions Community Plan is a roadmap of 40 actions which models how Saskatoon can achieve established greenhouse gas reduction targets over the next thirty years, through investments in policy changes, partnerships, programs and projects.”

As Saskatoon prepares for growth, the 40 actions to reduce emissions established in the LEC Plan will result in social and economic benefits for the community. Improved health; additional jobs; reduced expenses for residents, businesses and the municipality; and improved quality of life, are ways the Low Emissions Community Plan incentivizes a more diverse and resilient economy.

In 2015, Saskatoon signed the Covenant of Mayors, which highlighted the importance of early climate actions, instead of postponing action for future generations. Saskatoon committed to 80% GHG emissions reduction. From our 2014 baseline, that means drawing down from 3.85 million tonnes CO₂e per year to 780,000 tonnes CO₂e per year by 2050.

The Low Emissions Community Plan is the companion piece to the Local Actions Adaptation Strategy, which focuses on how the City can respond to climate change through infrastructure improvement projects and emergency response programs and was presented to Council earlier this year.

To learn more about Saskatoon’s Climate Action Plan visit saskatoon.ca/climatechange.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) has reached an agreement with the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) for the relocation of Fire Station No. 5 to the northeast corner of Preston Avenue and 108th Street. The move comes as a result of a review of SFD operations leading to the development of a new service model to make response times even better for the entire city. A report seeking approval for the execution of a long-term land lease agreement with the U of S goes to City Council on Monday, July 29.

“By using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, we’d previously identified that moving Station No. 5 to Preston Avenue north will provide a more optimal response model for the U of S and Varsity View, and at the same time, maintain responsive coverage to Sutherland,” says Morgan Hackl, Fire Chief.

The first phase of the new service model was the relocation of Fire Station No. 3. The second phase, the relocation of Fire Station No. 5, continues the establishment of an effective baseline for the delivery of emergency service to the community while keeping safety of the citizens and response personnel in the forefront. The model aims to ensure the delivery of services to citizens is done in the most effective and efficient way possible as the City looks to the future and how to provide emergency response service to a city of 500,000 residents.

Upon final approval by City Council and the Ministry of Advanced Education, a tender will be issued for the design of the new facility, followed by a construction tender and a contract award.  The anticipated start of construction is in the spring of 2020 with completion in spring of 2021. 

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/NewServiceModel.

Saskatoon Fire Department’s new service model furthers the City’s Strategic Goal of Quality of Life for Citizens in prioritizing the safety of the entire community.