News Releases

OVERNIGHT ROAD RESTRICTIONS ON 51ST STREET AND FAITHFULL AVENUE, JUNE 25-26

To minimize the impact to traffic and inconvenience to businesses in the area the work has been scheduled to take place between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Tonight the following restrictions will be in place for road resurfacing:

·    51st Street eastbound curb and centre lanes from Faithfull Avenue to Warman Road/Wanuskewin Road will be closed

·    51st Street westbound curb and centre lanes from Warman Road/Wanuskewin Road to Millar Avenue will be closed.

·    Faithfull Avenue from 50th Street to 51st Street will be closed.

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26.  All lanes will be open during the day.

REMINDER: IDYLWYLD DRIVE NORTHBOUND BETWEEN THE CIRCLE DRIVE SOUTH OVERPASS AND RUTH STREET, JUNE 25-27

Idylwyld Drive northbound between the Circle Drive South overpass and Ruth Street continues to be restricted to one lane for road reconstruction.  Crews will be working around-the-clock to accelerate the length of construction and minimize impact to traffic. The restrictions are expected to be lifted by June 27.

REMINDER: CIRCLE DRIVE OFF RAMP TO WARMAN ROAD, JUNE 25-27

The Circle Drive eastbound off ramp to Warman Road southbound continues to be closed for roadway paving. Access to Warman Road southbound from the Circle Drive eastbound off ramp will be restricted. The ramp is expected to reopen by Friday, June 27. 

Crews will be working around-the-clock to accelerate the length of construction and minimize the impact to traffic.

REMINDER: IDYLWYLD DRIVE SOUTHBOUND

The Idylwyld Drive southbound curb (outside) lane from 25th Street to 24th Street continues to be closed while crews carry out streetscaping work. One lane will remain open to traffic. The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27.

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.

The Saskatoon Fire Department has closed the Public Boat Launch until further notice because the increased water flow has created a serious safety concern for everyone using the river.

As of this morning, Wednesday, June 25, 2014, the Water Security Agency (WSA) increased the outflows from the Gardiner Dam to over 1100 cubic metres per second (m³/s) and rising. Normal outflow is approximately 350m³/s. Although outflow levels have increased significantly, they are not expected to rise to the 2013 high of approximately 2000m³/s.

“We understand the desire of the public to use the river, especially during the long weekend,” Assistant Chief Morgan Hackl says. “However, public safety remains our primary concern. The river becomes unpredictable and dangerous when flows increase. At times like this, water activities are best done in surrounding area lakes rather than the river.”

The 10-day forecast for stream flows and any other relevant updates will be posted to the WSA’s website at wsask.ca.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Everyone is invited to Kinsmen Day at the Zoo on Friday, June 27, 2014. Free admission to the Zoo will be provided from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please note parking, rental strollers, and fishing fees will still apply.
In lieu of admission, visitors are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item to benefit the Saskatoon Food Bank.  Representatives of the Saskatoon Food Bank will be on site all day to receive donations and answer questions.  
Fun, kid-friendly entertainment is planned between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., including activities provided by the Saskatoon Zoo Society for children to learn about the animals at the Zoo. During your visit look for new zoo animals, including two feature animals in the PotashCorp Ark exhibit, a red panda, and cougars!
For more information on the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/zoo.

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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Saskatoon has experienced a significant amount of rainfall in May and June, increasing the amount of standing water that creates optimal conditions for nuisance mosquitoes.  Typically, this does not affect populations of Culex tarsalis, the mosquito that transmits the West Nile virus.
To reduce mosquito populations, the City of Saskatoon:
• controls mosquito larvae using a biological pesticide;
• maps mosquito habitat to systematically treat areas in Saskatoon and the surrounding area;
• monitors populations of adult mosquitoes and provides updated counts on www.saskatoon.ca; and
• continually evaluates and tests new control products, such as a time-released biological pesticide that is being considered for future use.
Saskatoon residents can also reduce mosquito populations by eliminating standing water on their property with these simple steps: 
• remove all standing water from your property. Mosquito larvae can develop in any amount of water that is allowed to stand for four days or more;
• ensure items in and around the property like pool covers, wading pools, saucers under flower pots, toys, and pet bowls are regularly emptied or replaced with clean water;
• clean eavestroughs regularly so water does not collect in them;
• empty and clean bird baths twice weekly;
• ensure openings in rain barrels are covered with mosquito screening; and
• ensure your yard is free of debris such as old tires that can hold rainwater.
Together, we can reduce the amount of mosquitoes in Saskatoon.  For more information on the mosquito control program, visit www.saskatoon.ca, look under “M” for Mosquito Control.
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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OVERNIGHT ROAD RESTRICTIONS ON CIRCLE DRIVE AND 51ST STREET, JUNE 24-25

To minimize the impact to traffic and inconvenience to businesses in the area the work has been scheduled to take place between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Tonight the following restrictions will be in place for road resurfacing:

- Circle Drive northbound median lane from the train bridge to the river.

- 51st eastbound curb and centre lanes from the 1st Avenue intersection to Millar Avenue. The Millar intersection will be maintained.

- Faithfull Ave from 50th Street to 51st Street. Turning onto Faithfull Avenue southbound from 51st Street will be restricted. Westbound left turning lanes on 51st Street may be restricted. 51st Street eastbound to Faithfull Avenue southbound ramp closed.

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25. All lanes will be open during the day. Motorists are reminded that the zipper merge is in effect on Circle Drive.

CP RAIL CONSTRUCTION FORCES HWY. #7 DETOUR, JUNE 25-27

Beginning at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday June 25, Canadian Pacific Rail crews are scheduled to replace the rail crossing in the northbound lanes of Highway #7 just past the 11th Street turnoff.

To keep the work zone safe and efficient, the Highway #7 northbound lanes heading into Saskatoon will be closed from 11th Street to Hart Road. No access will be available to this section of Highway #7 from early Wednesday, June 25, to early Friday, June 27. That is, through traffic or right turns from 11th Street West onto Highway #7 will not be allowed.

Instead, a detour will be in place to direct traffic to 11th Street eastbound and then Circle Drive northbound. Turning onto Highway #7 northbound from Hart Road will be maintained. As the traffic volume is expected to be greater than usual, drivers are advised to be prepared for delays. The City thanks everyone for their patience as CP Rail works to upgrade its infrastructure.
IDYLWYLD DRIVE NORTHBOUND BETWEEN THE CIRCLE DRIVE SOUTH OVERPASS AND RUTH STREET, JUNE 25-27

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, Idylwyld Drive northbound between the Circle Drive South overpass and Ruth Street will be restricted to one lane as crews begin road reconstruction. 

Crews will be working around-the-clock to accelerate the length of construction and minimize impact to traffic. The road is expected to reopen by June 27.

CIRCLE DRIVE NORTHBOUND FROM HIGHWAY 16 TO TAYLOR STREET, JUNE 25

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, the Circle Drive northbound median lane starting at the Highway 16 overpass to the overhead sign bridge approaching Taylor Street will be closed for patch paving. The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 3:00 p.m. that day.

REMINDER: RAMPS AT CIRCLE DRIVE AND WARMAN ROAD, JUNE 23-27

The following restrictions are in effect on the Circle Drive and Warman Road ramps for road reconstruction:

June 23-25
The Warman Road southbound on ramp to Circle Drive westbound continues to be closed for roadway paving. Access to Circle Drive westbound from Warman Road southbound is restricted. The ramp is expected to reopen by Wednesday, June 25.

June 24-27
The Circle Drive eastbound off ramp to Warman Road southbound will be closed for roadway paving. Access to Warman Road southbound from the Circle Drive eastbound off ramp will be restricted. The ramp is expected to reopen by Friday, June 27. 

Crews will be working around-the-clock to accelerate the length of construction and minimize the impact to traffic.

REMINDER: IDYLWYLD DRIVE SOUTHBOUND

The Idylwyld Drive southbound curb (outside) lane from 25th Street to 24th Street continues to be closed while crews carry out streetscaping work. One lane will remain open to traffic. The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27.

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.