‘No room for error’ on stretch of Highway 5: Humboldt mayor

Another fatal crash on Highway 5 between Saskatoon and Humboldt has some raising concerns over safety on that stretch of road.

A four-door sedan appeared to have been cut in half Wednesday after losing control on the icy highway near Sunset Estates, colliding with a gravel truck heading the other way.

The driver of the car, a 28-year-old Saskatoon area man, died in hospital of his injuries.

“That road has been bad for years,” Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench told 650 CKOM, referring to the stretch of Highway 5 between Saskatoon and Highway 2.

He noted the two-lane highway lacks shoulders, making it difficult to avoid any collisions when a vehicle veers.

“There’s no room for error.”

Muench said first responders and truck drivers often complain about the narrow road, along with many residents who commute daily to Saskatoon.

Wednesday’s incident marked this year’s third fatal crash on Highway 5 between Saskatoon and Humboldt.

A family of three from Bruno was killed Jan. 4 after a semi collided with their SUV , while a 64-year-old woman died Jan. 30 after her car was involved in a collision with a pickup truck.

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure said Wednesday that several passing lanes had recently been opened between Highway 2 and Humboldt to improve safety. However, they were still in the planning phase for improvements between Highway 2 and Saskatoon, which include installing wider shoulders and intermittent passing lanes.

Muench said many residents felt the highway had been neglected by the province, but he said ministry communications are helping change the perception.

“Once they explained the process, I think people realized what the procedure was going to be,” he said.

There was no timeline available for when the improvements to Highway 5 between Highway 2 and Saskatoon might be completed.