Lanigan mayor thankful for safety improvements on Highway 16

Over $50 million dollars worth of passing lanes is planned to be completed on Highway 16 by the end of the construction season.

There will be 28 total passing lanes and multiple intersection upgrades built, to help improve the safety of one of Saskatchewan’s major highways.

Lanigan mayor Tony Mycock said the upgrades are a huge deal for the community of Lanigan and the surrounding area.

“It’s very exciting,” Mycock said. “Highway 16 is a very busy highway and it goes right through Lanigan. We’ve got all new pavement going through town.”

Mycock said the passing lanes will be a “real asset for safety and convenience” for people travelling to Saskatoon or beyond.

The passing lanes are part of a two-year $2-billion stimulus program that’s aiming to improve safety on highways.

Currently, Mycock said it can be very frustrating to take Highway 16, no matter what time of day it is.

“It’s just so busy. And especially with the mines all along that highway, when shift change comes it gets quite busy,” Mycock said.

“I’ve driven all the way to Saskatoon in the wintertime when it’s still dark out and never put my brights on all the way to Saskatoon.”

The Lanigan mayor said there’s still a hope that Highway 16 will have double lanes all the way through the province, but he’s not holding his breath.

“Everybody just thinks it’s a huge plus to have these passing lanes installed,” Mycock said. “We’d love to see the highway twinned like it is on the west side of Saskatoon, but I realize that’s a huge cost commitment.”