Crews across Saskatchewan are mobilizing as the province moves forward with $1.4 billion in capital projects this year.
The projects include $156.6 million for health care, $168.6 million for education, $31 million in post-secondary infrastructure, $479.5 million in transportation infrastructure and $291.8 in government services infrastructure.
The tally also includes $268.6 million for infrastructure projects by local governments.
“Communities throughout the province will see construction crews hard at work on projects funded through this year's record capital plan investment,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister Jim Reiter said. “We are building, expanding and improving the schools, hospitals, long-term care centres, parks and transportation infrastructure that improve quality of life, support economic growth and job creation and make Saskatchewan attractive to private sector investment.”
In Lloydminster, crews from Saskatoon-based Quorex Construction have begun work on a $28.8 million expansion and renovation of Lloydminster Comprehensive High School and a $10 million expansion and upgrade project at Holy Rosary High School. Quorex crews are also at work in Regina, handling construction of a new joint-use facility that will replace Argyle Elementary and Ecole St. Pius X schools.
In Yorkton, crews from Regina-based Westridge Construction Ltd. are upgrading Yorkton Regional High School and replacing the roof.
Crews from Graham Construction are working at the site of Regina’s new urgent care centre, with full construction expected to start this spring and be largely completed early next year.
In Saskatoon, PCL Construction Management Inc., originally founded in Stoughton, is preparing to undertake preliminary site preparation work for an expansion of the remand facility at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre.
Construction is nearing completion on several projects at parks around the province and will soon be open for the public, including the renovation and redevelopment of the former ski chalet at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park to create a new interpretive centre for visitors. Water system upgrades are nearing completion at Candle Lake Provincial Park.
The province said that two important health care projects are currently in the procurement stage. These include a new general hospital in Weyburn and the expansion and redevelopment of Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
More than a dozen projects public and institutional projects are at the planning, design or tendering stages, including a new urgent care centre in Saskatoon, long-term care projects in Grenfell, Estevan, Regina and Watson; replacement of the Yorkton Regional Health Centre; and water and wastewater upgrades at Rowan's Ravine, Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan Landing, Meadow Lake, Echo Valley, Porcupine Hills Provincial Parks.
The province says its capital plan this year totals a record $3.2 billion, or more than a tenth of the $30 billion it has promised to spend on infrastructure by 2030.
