Repaved Highway 8, 308 officially opened

August 18, 2021, 9:48 am
Kevin Weedmark

From left are Rocanville town councillor Irene McLean, RM of Rocanville Reeve Melissa Ruhland, Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk, Sask Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw cutting the ribbon to officially open the repaved Highway 8, and Justin Young of Nutrien.

Saskatchewan Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw visited Rocanville Friday to officially open the repaved section of Highway 8 from Rocanville to the Qu’Appelle Valley, and Highway 308 from Highway 8 to the Manitoba border.

Resurfacing work has been completed on Highways 8 and 308 near Rocanville, delivering nearly $13 million in highway improvements for motorists and local industry.

Initially announced as part of the Fall 2020 Tender Release, over 30 kilometres of resurfacing on Highway 8 and Highway 308 took place this spring and summer. The Highway 8 portion was funded through the Ministry of Highways’ rehabilitation program and the Highway 308 project was funded through the provincial stimulus program announced in May 2020.

“This project builds on our government’s commitment to protect, build and grow our province,” Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said. “This near $13 million project put Saskatchewan workers back on the job and utilized stimulus funding to protect and build our vital infrastructure in rural Saskatchewan.”

“These improvements to Highways 8 and 308 will prove very beneficial to the local economy in Rocanville and the surrounding area,” MLA for Moosomin Steven Bonk said. “I am proud to say the project used 100 per cent local labour and I am confident residents will be very pleased to see these upgrades completed.

“It’s been a long time since we could do something like this and I’m glad we can all be together to celebrate the completion of this important project,” Bonk said.

“I don’t come down to Southeastern Saskatchewan much,” Highways Minister Bradshaw said at the event Friday. “I’m from Northeastern Saskatchewan. I think this is the first time I’ve been to Rocanville. It’s a nice community and it’s great to see all these communities and the things that we have in rural Saskatchewan.

“This is a very important construction season here in Saskatchewan as we worked through the Covid pandemic. Our government is committed to getting Saskatchewan back to work and giving our economy the boost that it needs. In May 2020, Premier Moe announced a $2 billion stimulus program aimed at doing just that, getting people to work and growing our infrastructure in the places that need it most.

“For the ministry of highways, that’s meant a $300 million boost in capital projects. This project is an example of how we are utilizing that money in the best way possible.

“The 15 km of Highway 8 on which we find ourselves this morning was funded from the budget of 2021-22 that looks to protect, build, and grow Saskatchewan. But through our stimulus fund, we are able to also provide 16 km of Highway 308, from the junction of Highway 8 to the Manitoba border. This combined project was worth nearly $13 million.

“We know that this is a very important route for some of the major employers in the region such as Nutrien and their potash facility. This work employs local people and acts as a transportation network for those who rely on it to make a living. The ministry is planning on continuing this level of growth in infrastructure development. As part of our growth plan, we’ll be upgrading 10,000 km of highways. This builds on the more than 17,000 km of highways improved since 2008.”

Bradshaw said Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk was instrumental in having the highway projects completed.

“Your MLA, Steven Bonk, advocated hard for this project and I appreciate the work he has done to get this highway work on the docket,” Bradshaw said. “I’m excited about the progress we’ve made and will continue to make.”

Saskatchewan Highways minister Fred Bradshaw giving his speech while Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk and RM of Rocanville Reeve Melissa Ruhland look on.

MLA says lots of work behind the scenes on project
Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk said there was a lot of work behind the scenes to make the highway project a reality.

“As minister Bradshaw said, Highway 8 is a very important route for both local residents and industries,” Bonk said.

“I just want to say that it’s so nice to see Highway 308 fixed up because I’ve been advocating for that for a long time as anyone in the ministry of highway knows.

“We’d proposed pilot projects, new technologies, anything to get it fixed. It’s so nice to have a much more serviceable highway now, especially with our hidden gem, the Welwyn Regional Park, along that highway.”

Reeve says residents are grateful for province’s work on area highways
“On behalf of the residents and ratepayers of the RM of Rocanville I want to convey our sincere gratitude for the province’s significant efforts for the roads in our area,” RM of Rocanville Reeve Melissa Ruhland said.

“There is no question that the repaving of the number 8 from the Qu’Appelle Valley to Rocanville and the 308 from the Manitoba border to the number 8 has had a positive impact on our community.

“Both of these highways are arteries in this part of the southeast corner and all sectors are reaping the benefits, whether it’s traffic to and from the Nutrien mine, farmers coming into town for parts or with grain heading north, families coming in to get their groceries in town, campers heading to the Welwyn Regional Park, and of course all the other commercial, industrial, and agricultural industries in the area.

“We had hoped that the 308 could be constructed to carry primary weights from our farmers along that corridor, but the light traffic is thrilled with the improvement nonetheless.

“The RM council is likewise committed to doing our part in improving roads throughout the municipality. This year alone we’ve budgeted to spend over $590,000 on capital road projects.

“Council is working towards a plan to set goals for road improvement projects over the next five to ten years and longer.”

Reeve says Highway 8 between Rocanville and Moosomin also needs to be looked at
“We also recognize that traffic counts in the area warrant consideration for future expenditures, especially the number 8 south to Moosomin, as well as the highway to the Nutrien main site,” Reeve Ruhland said.

“We look forward to improvements on these roads in the future.

“Thank you again for undertaking the repaving of the number 8 and 308 highways. In the words of Henry Ford, we can’t build a reputation on what we are going to do.

“We as a community appreciate your commitment to making our roads better.”