Skip to content

Government commits to resurfacing Highway 47 south of Estevan

Highway 47 from Estevan’s south city limits to the U.S. border has long been a source of frustration for local residents who have complained about the condition of the highway.
Lori Carr
Estevan MLA Lori Carr

Highway 47 from Estevan’s south city limits to the U.S. border has long been a source of frustration for local residents who have complained about the condition of the highway.

But according to a press release from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, it could soon be receiving a much-needed facelift.

The 14-kilometre stretch of highway was included in the 2019 spring tender schedule, which lists more than $50 million worth of highway improvement and safety projects that will be tendered in the next several weeks. 

Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who is also the minister of Highways and Infrastructure, said this project has been a long time coming.

“That road has been in quite the state for a few years, so I think this repaving will be completely welcome by the people who live out there and by the people who use the recreational facilities in that area also,” she said.

Motorists who cross into Canada from the U.S. should also be pleased to see the resurfacing take place. The roads in North Dakota are very good, she said, but many in Saskatchewan aren’t at quite the same shape.

“It will be really nice to have this new surface for them,” said Carr.

She hopes all of the crushing and material will be prepped this year, and then the resurfacing can begin in the 2020 construction season.

“If we get the tender done and the bid out and everything, then whoever gets the job will be able to prepare for that job by doing all of crushing ahead of time in the winter,” said Carr.

A portion of Highway 47 between Estevan and the U.S. border was shifted in 2004 to accommodate coal mining that was happening in the area. That stretch of highway was constructed over reclaimed land.

Carr admits the highway hasn’t been in good shape since that time.

There have been issues with settling because it was constructed overtop of reclaimed land.

“I think that’s the reason the road is in the condition it is now is because of that settling. So they are fully aware of that, and they have done some geotechnical in that area, and we’re truly hoping that when the road is resurfaced this time, that they ensure the proper base and everything gets put down and that we have a nice, level driving surface going forward.”

The geotechnical work and the engineering work should result in a good road surface moving forward.

Carr said she has received quite a few comments regarding that road, and she believes many of them are from people who use Highway 47 to access the Boundary Dam Recreation Site inside Woodlawn Regional Park.

“They take their campers out there for camping on a regular basis, and the roadway does concern them. They have reduced speed limits in certain areas, so this will definitely alleviate some of those complaints that I do get,” said Carr.

As for Souris Avenue South from Fourth Street to the south city limits, which is part of Highway 47, it is still scheduled to be resurfaced this year. Since it will be through the Urban Highways Connector Program, it will happen through a cost-sharing program between the province and the city.

It’s a more involved project than the resurfacing a highway, she said, as they have to determine if curbing and other works need to be completed.

The biggest source of concern among constituents, though, has been Highway 18 west of Estevan. The stretch from Outram to Torquay was resurfaced last year, and Torquay to Oungre is slated to be taken care of this year.

As for the construction of passing lanes on Highway 39 between Estevan and Weyburn, the request for proposals hasn’t been issued yet. They have finished negotiating and consulting with landowners in the area, and they are in the midst of getting people to sign off.

“Now we’re able to actually send that out to tender and be able to get that job given out.”

Carr is hopeful that one or two sets of passing lanes will be constructed this year.

“It is going happen and it will be done. We will have passing lanes from Estevan all the way to Regina over the next couple or three years.”