Province invests $6 million in northern roads to support forestry

Saskatchewan is making a big investment into preserving and maintaining northern roads.

According to the Ministry of Highways, the one-time, $6-million investment will fund gravel work and brush clearing on a number of northern roads in a move that will support the province’s forestry industry.

The funding will go to roads that are expected to see increased traffic following the opening of new and upgraded mills, the ministry said. Those include highways 123, 165, 912 and 913, and the ministry said gravel crushing for work in those areas is to begin soon.

Trevor Reid, general manager of Edgewood Forest Products in Carrot River, said the future is looking bright for his industry, and expressed his thanks for the roadworks.

“This industry is poised for growth, and we’re pleased to see the provincial government supporting forestry,” Reid said in a statement.

Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s highways minister, said it’s important for the province to support the forestry industry.

“One of (the) goals in the (provincial government’s) Growth Plan is to double the size of Saskatchewan’s forestry sector by the year 2030,” Cockrill said Tuesday during a media conference north of Regina.

“In addition to growing sales and exports, we can also grow employment in the forestry sector. Forestry is the largest industry in northern Saskatchewan.”

The ministry noted this year’s budget includes $89.4 million to build, operate and maintain northern Saskatchewan’s transportation system. That money includes funds for gravel road improvements on Highway 924 northeast of Green Lake and continued work on Saskatchewan’s portion of Garson Lake Road.

Fortunately, the highways minister told reporters Tuesday traffic disruptions should be minimal.

“The roads that we’re going to be working on this summer … are not major highways,” Cockrill said. “They’re mostly roads north of Nipawin, north of Prince Albert (and) close to Narrow Hills Provincial Park.”

He said people should be mindful of workers when driving through affected areas.