News Releases

For Immediate Release: June 9, 2014

UPDATE: COLLEGE DRIVE & CIRCLE DRIVE, JUNE 10-11

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, the following restrictions on the College Drive westbound on ramp to Circle Drive will be in place while crews pave the road.

- College Drive eastbound and westbound turn lanes and on ramps to Circle Drive will be closed.
- Circle Drive northbound curb (outside) lane between College Drive and 108th Street will be closed.

The Zipper Merge will be used at this location. As drivers approach the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic starts to back up, stay in your current lane up to the point of merge. Then take turns in "zipper" fashion with other drivers to safely and smoothly ease into the remaining lane. Drivers in the through lane must take turns merging.

The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

1ST AVENUE ON RAMP TO IDYLWYLD DRIVE, JUNE 10-11

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, the following restrictions will be in place on 1st Avenue and 19th Street while crews work on the road.

- 1st Avenue southbound on ramp to Idylwyld Drive will be closed from 20th Street.
- Access to Midtown Plaza parking lot will be maintained.
- The left turn bays from 19th Street and 20th Street westbound onto 1st Avenue southbound will be closed. 

The work is expected to take 2 days.

33RD STREET, JUNE 10-12

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 33rd Street will be closed between Avenue P and Edmonton Avenue while crews work on water and sewer connections. A detour will be in place.

The work is expected to take 3 days.

51ST STREET WESTBOUND AT WENTZ AVENUE, JUNE 10-11

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 51st Street curb (outside) and centre lanes will be closed at Wentz Avenue while crews replace a storm sewer manhole and a hydrant. Wentz Avenue will also be closed between 51st Street and 50th Street.

The work is expected to last 2 days.

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! 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 curb and centre lanes on College Drive westbound are closed from Preston Avenue to Campus Drive (southeast entrance to University of Saskatchewan), including the right turning lane from Preston Avenue southbound to College Drive westbound.  Traffic is merging to the median lane at Preston Avenue.

Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route if possible, as this is a high-traffic route for morning commuters heading into downtown.  Please allow extra time to get to your destination if travelling in this area.

Crews repaired a primary water main on College Drive westbound over the weekend, just west of Preston Avenue.  The repair was successful, but the work zone remains in place for paving to occur on Monday.  The road is expected to reopen by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The City thanks 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.

Aiming to reduce speeding and improve pedestrian safety, the City of Saskatoon is piloting a project to install flashing lights in school zones. Starting on June 9, flashing lights will be installed on the school zone signs on Clarence Avenue between 3rd Street and 5th Street.

“Evidence has shown that flashing lights along with reduced speed limits are effective in improving safety in school zones,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “This pilot project is another step to alert drivers to reduce their speed and slow down.”
The maximum speed limit in school zones is 30 kilometres per hour. Reduced speed limits will continue to be in effect in elementary and secondary school zones 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. The penalty for exceeding the school zone speed limit is a fine and SGI demerit points

The work is expected to be completed by June 20, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Drivers are reminded to watch for pedestrians as they travel through school zones.

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.

SATURDAY

2ND AVENUE NORTHBOUND FROM 25TH STREET TO 26TH STREET, JUNE 7  

Beginning at 7.45 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2nd Avenue northbound lanes between 25th Street and 26th Street will be closed to accommodate a crane. Two-way traffic will be set in the southbound lanes.

The road is expected to reopen by 2:00 p.m. the same day.

SPADINA CRESCENT AND 19TH STREET, JUNE 7-8

Beginning at 12:00 p.m. noon on Saturday, June 7, the following road restrictions will be in place on Spadina Crescent and 19th Street to accommodate the Walmart Walk for Miracles event.

- Spadina Crescent will be closed from 3rd Avenue to 20th Street

- 19th Street eastbound curb (outside) lane will be closed from the Broadway Bridge to 3rd Avenue

The restrictions will be lifted by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.

SUNDAY

VARIOUS LANE RESTRICTIONS FOR LIGHT POLE WORK,  JUNE 8

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, the following restrictions will be in place while Saskatoon Light & Power crews work on light poles.

- Circle Drive southbound curb (outside) lane will be closed south of the Taylor Street on ramp.

- Circle Drive northbound and southbound median (inside) lanes will be closed between 33rd Street and Airport Drive.

- Warman Road southbound curb (outside) lane closed between 7th Avenue and Cavers Street.

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 12:30 p.m. the same day.

VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS FOR BRIDGE CITY BOOGIE, JUNE 8

Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, various road restrictions will be in place to accommodate the Bridge City Boogie. The main road restrictions will include:

- Broadway Bridge SB curb (outside) lane will be closed from 19th Street to Saskatchewan Crescent

- Spadina Crescent will be closed from 2nd Avenue to 20th Street and northbound from Dundonald Avenue to the Water Treatment Plant

- 3rd Avenue will be closed between 2nd Avenue and 19th Street  and 3rd Avenue southbound will be closed at 19th Street

- St. Henry Ave will be closed from Taylor Street to Ruth Street

- Taylor Street will be closed from St. Henry Avenue to Saskatchewan Crescent

The restrictions will be lifted by 11:00 a.m. the same day. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area during the event and watch for participants and officials.  

COLLEGE DRIVE WEST OF PRESTON, JUNE 8

Starting on Sunday, June 8, the College Drive westbound curb (outside) and middle lanes will be closed west of Preston Avenue while crews work on a water main. The restrictions will be lifted by evening the same day.

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.

8TH STREET FROM BROADWAY AVENUE TO CLARENCE AVENUE, JUNE 9-21

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, the following restrictions will be in place on 8th Street between Broadway Avenue and Clarence Avenue while crews pave the road. To minimize disruption to traffic the work will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1: June 9-14

• 8th Street eastbound lanes will be closed from Broadway Avenue to Clarence Avenue.
• Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the westbound lanes.
• No access to 8th Street from Dufferin Avenue northbound, Landsdowne Avenue northbound or Albert Avenue northbound.

Phase 2: June 16-21

• 8th Street westbound lanes will be closed from Clarence Avenue to Broadway Avenue.
• Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the eastbound lanes.
• No access to 8th Street from Dufferin Avenue southbound, Landsdowne Avenue southbound or Albert Avenue southbound

IDYLWYLD DRIVE AND 25TH STREET INTERSECTION, JUNE 9-22

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, the right turn lane from 25th Street westbound onto Idylwyld Drive northbound will be closed as crews begin Phase 2 of streetscaping for the 25th Street Extension. Westbound traffic will be detoured to 24th Street. The work is expected to take three weeks.

Please note Idylwyld Drive northbound right turn lane onto 25th Street eastbound is also currently closed while crews work on streetscaping. This work is expected to continue for another two weeks.

CIRCLE drive northbound LANE FROM CLANCY DRIVE - TEMPORARILY CLOSED ON JUNE 9

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, Clancy Drive eastbound traffic will not be able to turn onto Circle Drive northbound. Access to Circle Drive southbound will be maintained. 

Crews will be repairing the jersey barriers at the acceleration lane from Clancy Drive eastbound to Circle Drive northbound as part Circle Drive South Project.  The work is expected to be completed by 3:00 p.m. the same day.

PRESTON AVENUE AT WILLIS CRESCENT, JUNE 9

Starting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 9, Preston Avenue southbound curb lane will be closed at Willis Crescent while crews work on the road. The work is expected to take four weeks.

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 City of Saskatoon’s (City) Summer Leisure Mini Guide (Mini Guide) will be conveniently delivered to households with The SundayPhoenix on Sunday, June 8, 2014, and is also available for pick up at any indoor Leisure Centre, Saskatoon Public Library, or the Mendel Art Gallery.

The Mini Guide is your community source for a variety of arts, culture, and recreational activities throughout the summer months.  It contains up-to-date information on summer sites and programs, including outdoor pools, municipal golf courses, playground programs, youth centres, skateboard parks, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Gordon Howe Campground, Leisure Centres, and Red Cross Swim Programs. 

The Mini Guide also includes information on exciting new Recreation and Sport Summer promotions like the Summer Indoor LeisureCard and Saskatoon Kids Club Card.

The Summer Indoor LeisureCard is a limited time promotion that provides unlimited access to the City’s seven indoor Leisure Centres in July and August for one low price ($90/Adults; $55/Youth; $185/Families).  Sales end Sunday, July 20, 2014.  Restrictions apply.  Visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisurecard for more information. 
 
Designed especially for kids, the Saskatoon Kids Club promotion features a Club Card valid June 15 through to September 1, 2014.  Visit seven of the listed sites and receive the eighth visit FREE!  Club Cards are available for pick up at any City leisure facility or public library. 

Family Fun Packs are still available for purchase at any of the Leisure Centres for the discounted price of $100, plus GST, ($137 value) until Monday, June 30, 2014.  Fun Packs include nine family admission passes to the City’s most popular attractions. 

For more information on the Mini Guide or other summer programs and promotions, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisure.

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.

After the successful launch of new.saskatoon.ca, the hub for resident engagement and involvement throughout the development of the new City of Saskatoon website, the City of Saskatoon (City) will host an hour-long twitter chat with representatives from the new website development team on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

This twitter chat will give curious and interested residents the opportunity to ask direct questions and get an answer from those working directly on the website redesign project.  To participate, sign-up or log-in to Twitter and tweet your questions to @cityofsaskatoon or by using the #newsaskatoon hashtag.

Because public involvement is a vital aspect of the website redesign project, this is a great topic for the first-ever twitter chat and the City looks forward to hosting more twitter chats in the future.  This twitter-chat will aim to increase participation in the current engagement exercise, have people sign-up for updates and announcements and a way for the City to answer any questions people may have about the project overall. 

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 City of Saskatoon is seeking community input on the North Downtown Master Plan which aims to intensify the residential, commercial, recreational and retail opportunities in the downtown area and establish a framework for development to support the City as it grows to a population of 500,000 residents.

Please join us at our “Come and Go” Open House event:

Wednesday, June 11, 2014
TCU Place – Salon E
35 – 22^nd Street
3:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Drop in to view displays and provide comments or plan to attend a presentation and discussion at 3:30 and 6:00 p.m.

The North Downtown Master Plan will guide the development of an exciting new neighbourhood in the heart of the City, which includes former rail yards and additional lands bounded by Idylwyld Drive, 33rd Street, First Avenue and 24th Street.  The envisioned North Downtown will be a lively residential and mixed-use neighbourhood that will feature a network of green and open spaces and promotes sustainable living.  A draft final plan reflecting input from a series of community consultations will be presented.

Materials and information presented will also be available on the City’s website following the public meeting.  Detailed information and updates on these initiatives are available at www.saskatoon.ca  and look under “N” for North Downtown Master Plan.

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.

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2014
                                             

Today the City of Saskatoon highlighted steps it is taking to build better roads and ensure this season’s patching, resurfacing and paving efforts last over a longer term. 

“With the road construction season now underway, it’s important for people to know that we’re not just building better roads.  The new funding for road rehabilitation will extend the life of our roadways and residential streets,” says Mike Gutek, Director of Major Projects at the City of Saskatoon. “We are resurfacing 178 lane kilometres of road this summer and drivers will start to see a big improvement over the next few years as funding levels increase.”

Measuring the time a road will be used from the beginning to the end of its life (known as a “lifecycle”) helps to determine the type and frequency of preservation treatments the roadway will require to maximize its life, rather than just building it and using it until it wears out. This lifecycle assessment balances the life of materials with the most effective preservation treatments.

“Treating roadways during their lifecycle is key to protecting our investment,” Gutek explains. “We want to catch a road before it fails, creating a network of better roads, in better condition, for a longer period of time.  The concept is essentially the same as maintaining your house; you replace your shingles before the roof leaks and you plan to paint your siding before it deteriorates and starts peeling.”

As road construction proceeds this year, new design features such as drainage layers to protect roads from moisture damage are being introduced.

The City will also introduce a new Roadway Preservation Funding plan to address road conditions earlier in their lifecycle, using the latest preservation techniques and treatments that are the most time and cost-effective.

 “With a properly funded rehabilitation program, we can move past temporary fixes and get to the root of the problem,” says Gutek. “Our proactive approach this year will result in better roads today and tomorrow.”

Saskatoon’s most aggressive program of road construction, maintenance and rehabilitation ever is now underway with over $50 million targeted to projects ranging from major roadwork to residential streets and sidewalks. Almost half ($23.4M) of this budget is dedicated to improving our road network.  This is an increase in funding of 79 per cent dedicated to road preservation compared to $13.06 million in 2013, allowing us to apply treatments to 178 lane kilometres, versus 78 lane kilometres in 2013, which is about the same distance as from Saskatoon to Kindersley.

Residents can view a list of the City’s 2014 construction projects at saskatoon.ca by clicking “Building Better Roads”.

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2014
                                           

IDYLWYLD DRIVE, JUNE 6-7

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, the following lane restrictions will be in place on Idylwyld Drive while crews repair the guard rails.

Friday, June 6 – 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

- Idylwyld Drive northbound median (inside) lane will be closed between 39th Street and 44th Street. 

Saturday, June 7 – 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

- Idylwyld Drive northbound median (inside) lane will be closed between 39th Street and 44th Street.
- Idylwyld Drive southbound median (inside) lane will be closed between 44th Street and Circle Drive.

The restrictions will be taken down and reset each day.

4TH AVENUE FROM 21ST STREET TO 20TH STREET, JUNE 6

Beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 4th Avenue southbound lanes and the northbound median (inside) lane will be closed from 21st Street to 20th Street to accommodate the SIIT Annual President’s Breakfast. The road is expected to reopen by 11:30 a.m. the same day. 

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! 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.