Resolution No. 14-06M

WHEREAS, economic development in our province is dependent on road infrastructure to facilitate the receiving of supplies, the shipping of goods and the travel to and from the area by the workers; and 

WHEREAS, the proposed huge expansion of resource development in the north-west will depend heavily on a connection to the province’s primary highway system;  

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM promote the inclusion of Highway No. 155 from Green Lake to Laloche in the Primary Highway System.

Response from Honourable Eldon Lautermilch, Minister of Highways and Transportation:

Regarding Resolution No. 14-06M Highway 155 – Primary Weight, the department has completed a comprehensive review of the primary weight network and developed a provincial primary weight policy framework to balance the often conflicting demands of supporting economic development with long term financial sustainability of highway infrastructure.

The recent announcement allowing primary weight on additional highways is part of the new policy framework.  In addition, a long-term plan to allow primary weight on other highways in the province has been developed.  This plan has been developed using criteria that include traffic volume and pavement structural capacity.  A provincial Weight Advisory Committee (WAC) consisting of major stakeholders has also been established to regularly review requests for additions to the network.

In following with the review process, I will be forwarding the request for the inclusion of Highway 155 from Green Lake to La Loche to the WAC for consideration for its inclusion in the Primary Weight Highway network.

For more information about the new primary weight policy framework, or if SARM has questions about the WAC, please contact Andrew Liu, Senior Policy Advisor, Sustainable Infrastructure, at (306) 787-4784 in Regina.