City of Regina again pondering plan to upgrade Saskatchewan Drive

More than three years after the idea was first floated, the City of Regina is again looking at sprucing up Saskatchewan Drive.

The Saskatchewan Drive Corridor Project, which was first put forward late in 2019, is looking to upgrade the street from McTavish Street to Winnipeg Street.

In a media release, the city said the goal of the project is “to improve the function, safety, connectivity, land use and overall beautification of this important roadway. The project will result in a better experience for drivers and pedestrians and create more vibrancy along the corridor.”

“This project looks to transform Saskatchewan Drive into a Grand Avenue and multi-modal corridor,” said a story on the city’s website. “A Grand Avenue is a gateway in and out of a key area of our city, which may feature robust landscaping, street furniture and enhanced design and public realm.”

In 2019, the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan’s said the redesign included things like broad sidewalks with double rows of trees.

The changes could also include buildings set further back from the road, paving, lighting, and banners distinctive to the downtown, crosswalks at all intersections, permanent on-street parking, bike lanes, and bump-outs on sidewalks at intersections.

The city is to hold a public information session about the project on Feb. 8 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in The Studio in the Cornwall Centre. That room is located on the main floor of the mall, across from the SaskTel Store.

Once the plan is finalized, it’s expected to go before city council for approval later this year, with detailed design and construction to begin in 2024.

More information is available here.