News Releases

Starting on June 22, 2014, overnight restrictions will be in place while crews resurface the roadway on 51st Street from Faithfull Avenue to Wanuskewin Drive and Circle Drive from College Drive overpass to the North Circle Drive Bridge. The work on 51st Street was previously postponed due to weather.

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 6:00 a.m. All lanes will be open during the day.

Work will include:

51st Street/Faithfull Avenue:

·    51st Street eastbound curb and centre lanes closed from Faithfull Avenue to 1st Avenue

·    Faithfull Avenue closed from 50th Street to 51st Street. Access for local traffic maintained.

·    Left turns at the intersection from 51st Street onto Faithfull Avenue are restricted.

Circle Drive from Attridge Drive to North Circle Drive bridge

·    Circle Drive westbound curb and centre lanes from Attridge Drive eastbound off-ramp to river closed

·    Attridge Drive westbound off-ramp to Circle Drive westbound closed

·    Left turn turns from Preston Avenue eastbound to Circle Drive northbound are restricted.

·    Restrictions on ramps may be in effect. Please watch for signage.

·    Note: the zipper merge is in effect.

The restrictions will be lifted by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances. Work on both projects will continue in additional phases over the next several weeks.

The City would like to thank everyone for their patience.

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.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, the intersection of Central Avenue and 105th Street will be closed while crews repair a manhole. Motorists please use 104th Avenue or 106th Avenue as a detour. 
The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 6:00 p.m. that day, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

REMINDER: 8TH STREET WESTBOUND FROM BROADWAY AVENUE TO CLARENCE AVENUE
The 8th Street westbound lanes from Broadway Avenue to Clarence Avenue continue to be closed for paving. Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the eastbound lanes. The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

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.

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 Release: June 20, 2014

The City of Saskatoon plans to upgrade its metering system for utilities to a smart meter system that will allow the City to bill each resident fairly, based on actual usage rather than estimated usage. 

Currently, the City of Saskatoon bills customers based on estimated usage with manual meter reads taking place once every few months or so. This manual read often results in a bill that reflects necessary adjustments, either an increase or a decrease, based on actual use. When the Smart Meter System is active, which is scheduled for 2015, your bill will then reflect actual use every month.  This means fair billing for everyone.

If your utility bill has been larger in recent months, this is because a manual meter read has taken place. We are not increasing billing rates nor has the Smart Meter System been activated.

Smart Meters will result in many benefits for residents, including the ability to access data that will allow them to monitor and adjust their electricity and water consumption habits in order to save money and help the environment.

To find more information on Smart Meters, visit Saskatoon.ca and click on “Smart Meters” under Check This Out! 

OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS: IDYLWYLD FREEWAY FOR CLEANING, JUNE 20

Starting at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, the Idylwyld Freeway from 20th Street to the 8th Street overpass and the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge will have various lane restrictions to accommodate annual cleaning.

The work is expected to be completed by 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20.

REMINDER: 8TH STREET WESTBOUND FROM BROADWAY AVENUE TO CLARENCE AVENUE
The 8th Street westbound lanes from Broadway Avenue to Clarence Avenue continue to be closed for paving. Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the eastbound lanes. The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

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.

Road construction season is in full swing in Saskatoon and drivers will no doubt encounter some type of restrictions along their route at any time of day.  To keep traffic moving through work zones on high-traffic streets and freeways, the zipper merge is used where possible to ease traffic congestion, reduce collisions and ensure safety of drivers and workers.

“The zipper merge keeps traffic moving in two lanes up to the work zone edge at which point the lanes then take turns merging,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “The City’s roadway coordinators carefully place signage in order to keep traffic moving, while providing a safe environment for workers and safe roadways for drivers.

The use of a zipper merge will reduce the potential for collisions and frustration when one lane is stopped or travelling very slowly and the other lane is travelling faster and unsafe merges occur.

Drivers are currently using a zipper merge on Circle Drive and it will also be in place on Idylwyld Drive during resurfacing over the next few weeks.  Additional locations may be added as traffic control plans are finalized.  Drivers should always follow the signs in place for the specific work zone.

“As drivers approach the “zipper merge ahead” sign and traffic starts to concentrate near the work zone, stay in your current lane up to the “merge here” sign,” Gardiner says.  “Then take turns in "zipper" fashion, alternating with other drivers to safely and smoothly ease into the remaining lane.  Both lanes of drivers must take turns merging.”  A zipper merge works best on a long stretch of road with no cross-streets that require access.

Each work zone signage plan considers factors such as the space required for the work; volume and speed of traffic; volume of pedestrians; access to residences or businesses; and nearby restrictions that may impact traffic flow. This signage may stay in place when work zones may not appear active as roadside hazards may exist or fresh pavement or concrete needs to set.

For more information and a step-by-step video, visit saskatoon.ca and look under “Z” for Zipper Merge.

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.