City of Saskatoon searching for answers after planning for freeway indefinitely postponed by province

According to a report from the City of Saskatoon, the Ministry of Highways has decided to cancel planning for the Saskatoon Freeway Project, at least for now.

Plans for the the freeway project started back in 2001. Thefour-lane freeway around the city was estimated to cost at least $2 billion to build.

The freeway would be mainly used to divert heavy truck traffic away from the city, especially Circle Drive N., a busy commercial and industrial corridor.

The city report said the Ministry of Highways has decided to cancel planning on phase 3 of the project, which would run between Highway 16 and Highway 7 on Saskatoon's west side.

Saskatoon's director of transportation is recommending that Mayor Charlie Clark write a letter to the provincial governmentoutlining the importance of continuing planning work for the freeway project and asking the province toreconsider the decision.

"A freeway between Highway 7 and Highway 16 would attract the regional, provincialand inter-provincial traffic, and extend the usability of Circle Drive as it is configured today," read the report.

"Without a freeway, congestion at specific locations will continue to grow and the traffic impacts will also move upstream from the source over time."

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Highways said that the planning study is being postponed, not cancelled, although they did not have a date when it mightbe resumed.

The spokesperson said the freeway project is likely 10 to 15 years away, and the ministry has decided to use the study money on other more immediate projects, such as the intersection of Highway 11 and Wanuskewin Road.

The report said administration was told about the cancellation in early October.

At this point, it's not clear when planning for the section of freeway will resume.

Planning for phase 1 of the project, which would run north of the city between Highway 16 and the South Saskatchewan River, is almost complete and is expected to be ready for approval by the end of October.

Phase 2, which would run from the South Saskatchewan River to Highway 11 south of the city, is holding information sessions for the public in Novemberand a draft report is expected in early 2022.

The Ministry of Highways told the city that the planned corridor for the freeway would remain in place and development restrictions in the area would stay constant.

The report said the freeway project would also cut down truck traffic on 11th Street W. andNeault Road.

Uncertainty on the project means city planning is impacted, including the Blairmore Sector Plan on the city's west side.

A deadline for construction on the project has never been set.

A similar road project in Regina was completed in 2019.

Councillors will discuss the issue in the city's transportation committee meeting on Monday.