Sask. adds six new cameras to Highway Hotline

Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline is making it even easier to keep an eye on highway conditions around the province.

The provincial government announced the addition of six new highway cameras to the service on Friday, which lets users get a sense of the road conditions and visibility before they hit the road.

Two of the new cameras will be located on Highway 6 near Dafoe and Naicam, while the other new cameras will monitor Highway 14 near Macklin, Highway 15 close to Sheho, Highway 40 near Blaine Lake, and Highway 55 in the Smeaton area.

The highway cameras are refreshed every five minutes, the ministry said, providing an up-to-date snapshot of highway conditions.

Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s highways minister, said the new cameras will provide more information to drivers before they set out.

“Our government continues to enhance the Highway Hotline’s service to ensure motorists have more ways to plan their journey and make an informed decision,” Carr said in a statement.

The first cameras were added to the Highway Hotline in 2011, and more have gradually been added in the years since. There are now more than 50 highway cameras feeding information to drivers and Highway Hotline staff around the province, the ministry noted.

The Highway Hotline and the traffic cameras can be accessed online, through a smartphone app, or by calling 511.

With the winter weather slamming the province this week, the ministry also reminded highway travellers to use caution around plows and other heavy equipment.

“For the safety of all drivers and the safety of equipment operators, motorists are reminded to stay back and stay safe near snowplows, which create a mini blizzards when plowing,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Snowplows pull over when safe to do so, roughly 10 to 15 kilometres, to let drivers pass.”