A third and final round of public and stakeholder engagement is coming up for the Saskatoon Freeway Functional Planning Study.
The Ministry of Highways has assembled a project team which includes experts from AtkinsRealis, AECOM, and Praxis Consulting. The focus for 2024 will be on the functional design for the western section of the freeway between Highway 16 west and the Highway 7/Highway 60 intersection.
Phase 3 is an approximate 16.5 km long section of the Saskatoon Freeway which runs between the Highway 16 west interchange developed as part of Phase 1 design work and the Highway 7/Highway 60 intersection. The Phase 3 study will include potential interchanges for Beam Road and Claypool Road west of Neault Road (Dalmeny Road). The freeway will also include an interchange where it crosses Highway 14.
The Phase 3 functional design will be integrated with future City of Saskatoon development plans in the Blairmore Development Area and will affect people living in country residential, and farm properties adjacent to the freeway route. The functional planning study builds on the work of the Saskatoon Freeway general location study – completed in 2018 – by gathering additional information such as topographic, drainage, environmental and heritage data. The study will more accurately identify land required for construction and it will allow some current temporary land restrictions to be lifted.
Two public information sessions for stakeholders, residents and landowners are being planned as part of Phase 3: one for this spring and another in late summer/fall 2024. The first information session will include an in-person opportunity for discussion and questions with the project team.
The public is encouraged to visit the Saskatoon Freeway (https://saskatoonfreeway.org) website for the dates and details of the upcoming public information sessions.
Once Phase 3 of the Saskatoon Freeway Functional Study is complete, residents and businesses along the freeway corridor will have a better understanding of where and how they may be impacted. This is long-term planning work and the timeline for construction is at least 15 years away.