The Saskatchewan government continues to work to improve highway intersections in the province.
The second year of a five-year, $100 Million plan has just wrapped up with 108 projects done in 2020 according to Minster of Highways and Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw. So far $40 Million has been invested in the first two years.
After the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, the provincial government decided to investigate every intersection in the province, leading to this five-year plan. The intersection of the Broncos crash, Highway 35 and 335, needed 13 improvements according to the review.
“We just only have two more left to go,” Bradshaw told
“I will certainly try my best and do the best job I can, for not just the likes of Carrot River Valley, but all of Saskatchewan because you have to understand that we have 25,000 kilometres of road in Saskatchewan. It’s a big job.” Bradshaw said that while he would like to see all the roads fixed, it’s an ongoing job between maintenance and rebuilding roads. “It will take us some time for us to be able to get that all done, and truthfully in Saskatchewan with the number of roads we have, you’re never going to it’s an ongoing job.”
On Jan. 30, the WHO declared the coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The first confirmed cases of the disease in Italy on Jan. 31. By March, Europe was considered the active centre of the disease. On March 11, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Public facilities were closed down across east central Saskatchewan. Face-to-face teaching in schools ended. Public events were cancelled. Businesses closed down or found alternate ways to serve their customers. The first case the East Central Recorder could confirm in the region was in Humboldt. The person in question contacted Mayor Rob Muench, who then confirmed with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.