News Releases

Drivers are reminded that reduced speed limits in elementary and secondary school zones will be in effect starting on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. The maximum speed limit in school zones is 30 kilometres per hour (km/h) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, September 1 to June 30. No exceptions are made for statutory holidays or school breaks.

“Twelve seconds is all the additional time it takes to drive through a school zone at 30 km/h instead of 50 km/h. A child’s safety is worth more than 12 seconds,” says Jay Magus, Engineering Manager, Transportation. “The limit is designed to give drivers more time to react and brake in an emergency – such as when a child runs out unexpectedly onto the street.”

The penalty for speeding in a school zone is a fine starting at $192 and SGI demerit points. In 2014, 3,061 drivers were caught speeding through school zones; according to SGI there were a total of 10 collisions or incidents which resulted in 4 injuries.

As well as reduced speed limits in school zones, U-turns are prohibited, parking is allowed in designated areas only and stopping or parking is not allowed in a school bus loading zone.

Residents are reminded SGIs automated speed enforcement pilot project continues with one camera rotating through the following five school zones:

• St. Michael Community School, 22 33rd Street East
• École Henry Kelsey School, 16 Valens Drive
• Brownell/St. Angela, Russell Road
• École Canadienne-Française, 1407 Albert Avenue (zone on Clarence Avenue between 3rd and 5th Streets)
• Mother Teresa/Silverspring, Konihowski Road

Posted signs clearly indicate where Automated Speed Enforcement is in use.

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 provincial ban on pruning elm trees ends Tuesday, September 1, 2015.  Every year the ban is in place from April 1 to August 31 to ensure that elm bark beetles, which transmit Dutch elm disease (DED), were not attracted to freshly-pruned trees when the beetles are most active. 

The provincial DED regulations also restrict elm storage because elm wood, especially firewood, is the habitat for the elm bark beetle.  At any time of the year, elm branches, logs, and firewood must be taken to the nearest approved disposal site.  In Saskatoon, the landfill is the only site approved for elm disposal.  Movement of infected firewood is the most likely way that DED would be brought into Saskatoon. 

In July 2015, the first case of DED was identified in Saskatoon.  To contain the disease, the infected tree was removed.  By following the provincial regulations, and maintaining trees on your private property, all citizens can help prevent the spread of DED in Saskatoon. 

For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca/trees  

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.

NEW

CIRCLE DR WB CENTRE LANE CLOSED AT IDYLWYLD DR N
(Manhole flushing)
Start: August 31, 5:00 a.m. End: August 31, 7:00 a.m.

CENTRAL AVE SB/NB LANE RESTRICTIONS APPROACHING 104TH ST W
(Road paving)
Two-way traffic set up in NB lanes
Start: August 31, 9:00 a.m. End: August 31, 4:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR EB/WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CIRCLE DR NORTH BRIDGE
(Bridge deck sealing)
Start: August 31, 9:00 p.m. End: September 1, 5:00 a.m.

ONGOING

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 11/16 WB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane will be maintained on the EB overpass
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST EB LANES CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE TO BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

EXPECT DELAYS: 22ND ST W EB CENTRE & MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM DIEFENBAKER DR TO HART RD
(Resurfacing)
One curb lane will remain open
Start: August 29, 7:00 a.m. End: August 30, 6:00 a.m.

22ND ST W EB CURB (OUTSIDE) & CENTRE LANES CLOSED FROM DIEFENBAKER DR TO HART RD
(Resurfacing)
One median lane will remain open
Start: August 30, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO PRESTON AVE S
(Guardrail repair)
Start: August 30, 12:00 p.m. End: August 30, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 11/16 WB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane will be maintained on the EB overpass
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST EB LANES CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE TO BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Starting Tuesday, September 1, 2015, crews will begin pruning trees on civic property in the Nutana (Central and North) neighbourhood and Confederation Park neighbourhood as part of the City of Saskatoon’s (City) overall boulevard tree maintenance program.

The boulevard tree maintenance program follows a regular pruning cycle to help preserve the health and appearance of the City’s boulevard and park tree inventory.  Removing dead wood from elm trees is an important part of preventing the spread of Dutch elm disease.  Maintenance crews will remove any broken, dead, weak, and diseased branches.  Keeping sidewalks and roads free of any hazards, crews will also remove any tree parts that are obstructing pedestrian or vehicle traffic and maintain appropriate clearances from buildings, signs, and streetlights.  Tree maintenance operations in these two neighbourhoods will continue until the middle of December.

Tree maintenance often requires road restrictions.  The City reminds pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to ensure that safety is a priority by respecting the work zone appropriately and obeying all road restrictions and signage.

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.