Saskatchewan drivers again turn to Highway Hotline in large numbers

It’s been a hot time on the Hotline.

The Saskatchewan government said Friday the Highway Hotline had 10.6 million visits to its website over the past year. According to the government, that’s higher than a normal year, but lower than the record of nearly 13 million hits in 2021-22.

That year’s total included details on an atypical number of winter storms.

“The Highway Hotline is a lifeline to travellers in Saskatchewan,” Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a media release. “Drivers get the latest information that allows them to make decisions to protect themselves, their families and other travellers on the road.”

In November, a new Highway Hotline app was launched for cellphones and other handheld devices. The government said the app has been downloaded more than 100,000 times since its launch.

The release said the Hotline received nearly 675,000 hits during April’s spring storm that caused the closures of numerous highways in the province’s south and southeast.

“The staff who work at the Highway Hotline and on the winter maintenance crews are public servants in the truest sense of the phrase. Their entire focus is on serving travellers in Saskatchewan,” Cockrill said. “Travellers are encouraged to use the Hotline for road information throughout the year. In spring, summer and fall, the Hotline shows you where we’re working, which can help you plan your trip.”

The Hotline has links to nearly 50 cameras at locations around the province, giving drivers the opportunity to see real-time pictures and alter their travel plans if needed.