By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
After endorsing the construction of passing lanes along Highway 41 on the east side of Saskatoon a year ago, the RM of Corman Park is now giving its stamp of approval for a plan to provide access to properties that will otherwise be closed off from the highway.
During their July 7 meeting, Corman Park councillors passed a motion to endorse the Ministry of Highways’ proposed access management plan for Highway 41.
Division 1 Councillor John Germs and Division 7 Councillor Calvin Vaandrager voted against the motion.
As explained in an administration report, Corman Park councillors originally gave their endorsement to a plan to build passing lanes along Highway 41 on February 25, 2025. The purpose of these lanes is to reduce vehicle collisions on that stretch of highway and decrease travel times for motorists.
Since then, the Ministry of Highways has developed a plan for modifying accesses to the highway. This entails re-aligning 1.98 kilometres of Township Road 374, closing several existing accesses and constructing about 4.65 kilometres of service roads within the RM.
Construction would be the responsibility of the Ministry of Highways, but the task of maintaining the new roadways will be transferred to the RM upon completion.
Administration estimated that Corman Park spends about $7,400 per kilometre to maintain Township Road 374 annually, which includes grading, gravelling and snowplowing.
Factoring in a cost of $5,000 per kilometre to maintain the new service roads, this means the RM would be on the hook for approximately $37,900 in additional costs each year from the changes in this road management plan, should it go ahead as presented.
The civic addresses of three landowners will also need to be updated and some road names will have to change. This would cost around $500 to $1,000, though the Ministry has indicated it will handle that expense.
A public consultation is not planned for this project, but the ministry does intend to reach out to landowners affected by the project.
Germs noted that when the province first approached Corman Park about endorsing the passing lanes, he strongly recommended that they consulted with landowners beforehand, and that apparently hasn’t happened.
“Shouldn’t they have taken on the responsibility to at least discuss this with the affected landowners (before seeking council’s endorsement)?” Germs asked, noting that if he had not e-mailed some of the landowners in the area, they would have no idea this project was going ahead.
While he supported the idea of making that highway safer for motorists, Germs said he could not support the plan that day due to the lack of consultation. “If we endorse this today, we’re saying ‘OK, that’s it,’ and then the landowners have to deal with what’s left there,” he said.
Vandraager agreed with Germs, noting that if the province does not do sufficient consultation before this project goes ahead, they’re not doing their due diligence.
A representative of the Ministry of Highways who connected to the meeting online said their consultation with stakeholders was ongoing, but they wanted the initial buy-in from the RM on the access management plan.
She offered to give the RM an update later once their consultation with landowners is completed.
Division 8 Councillor Wendy Trask said she supported the plan, noting that the intersection between Highway 41 and Township Road 374 was “deadly.”
Reeve Joe Hargrave also emphasized the need to improve safety along that stretch of highway, adding that he did not want to do anything that could potentially delay the project.
“The sooner the better that these roads get done,” Hargrave said.
Division 4 Councillor David Greenwood asked what would happen if affected landowners were strongly opposed to the plan and gave the province feedback to that effect.
The Highways representative confirmed that they would work with landowners as much as possible to mitigate their concerns.
Based on that response, Greenwood said he was confident the province”is going to represent its people just as much as we would represent them.”
This graphic, which was included in the agenda package for the RM of Corman Park council meeting on July 7, shows the proposed re-alignment of Township Road 374 near Highway 41. It also shows the proposed road/access closures and new service roads that the province intends to build.