(File photo/CJME News staff)

By CJME News

Saskatchewan adds $11M to rural road rehabilitation plan

Mar 10, 2021 | 4:32 PM

The Saskatchewan government is sinking more money into the province’s municipal roads.

On Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe announced an investment of another $11.2 million into the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) program. That brings the total investment in 2020-21 to more than $39 million.

The money will help rural municipalities with the cost of construction and upgrading of municipal roads, bridges and culverts.

“Rural municipalities play a significant role in our plan to build a strong Saskatchewan,” Moe said in a media release. “This funding will ensure projects will be ready for this construction season to help build rural infrastructure while protecting and growing jobs across our province.”

The provincial government plans to rebuild 100 roads over the next three years and 100 bridges over the next four years. Over two rounds of funding, 89 road projects and 45 bridge projects have been approved by the province and have received nearly $38 million in funding.

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The government has set a target of improving more than 1,000 kilometres of provincial highways this year and is aiming to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways over a 10-year span.

Moe also announced Wednesday an investment of $2 million over two years to expand channel clearing for RMs.

The Water Security Agency originally budgeted $600,000 over two years for channel clearing. The government is adding $500,000 for the 2020-21 fiscal year and $1.5 million the following year.

Channel clearing involves removing beaver dams, debris, trees, shrubs, silt and blow dirt from channels, reducing the possibility of blockages that can cause flooding or damage to infrastructure.