RMs receive funding to rehabilitate rural roads in Sask.

More of Saskatchewan’s rural roads are to get upgrades this year.

The provincial government announced Monday that 69 rural municipalities are to receive $25.7 million under Phase 3 of the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) program.

“The ministry has seen an engaged and enthusiastic response to the RIRG program,” Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said in a media release.

“This targeted effort improves the safety and quality of our rural infrastructure, strengthens partnerships with Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, our rural municipalities and creates another outlet to aid the province’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The grants cover up to 50 per cent of a project’s total cost, to a maximum of $500,000.

The budget for the program in 2021-22 is $28 million, which includes base funding of $15 million. The government also adds additional funding to help it reach its goal of rebuilding 100 roads over three years.

Through the RIRG program, the government is helping RMs improve 219 roads at a cost of $233.6 million, with $55.5 million of that provided through the program. There are 63 projects from phases 1 and 2 that are still underway.

The province is working on more than 1,350 kilometres of highways this year, the second of its 10-year plan to build or upgrade 10,000 km of highways. This year’s projects will increase the total so far to 2,350 km.