Saskatoon Freeway Project

Nearly 200 emails and letters will be presented to Saskatoon City Council tomorrow, urging members not to approve the proposed construction of a freeway around Saskatoon that would pass through two natural wetlands.

A report from administration says planning for the Saskatoon Freeway Project was initiated by the Ministry of Highways in 1999, and it is expected to include a four-lane, 55-kilometre-long divided highway that begins at Highway 11 south of Saskatoon and connects with Highway 16 northwest of the city.

Administration is now asking Council to endorse Phase 2 of the Saskatoon Freeway Functional Planning Study, an action that would be met with disapproval from hundreds, including the Swale Watchers, a local environmental group.

While the Ministry of Highways doesn’t require city council’s endorsement to go ahead with the study, administration says it will provide certainty to landowners and developers.

Circle Drive and Additional Billboards

The current rule that limits the number of billboards along Saskatoon’s Circle Drive right-of-way may soon be rescinded.

As part of the 2024/2025 Budget Process, City Council recently advised administration to pursue additional billboard leases along Circle Drive. However, in March of 2018, Council had stood on the other side of this issue, stating “That additional billboards on public right-of-way not be installed due to public safety reasons.”

In order to make progress on this project, rescinding the previously provided direction is required, and looks quite likely, as the potential earnings from installing eight additional billboards have already been added to the 2024 budget as $200,000 in revenue.

If the recommendation is approved at tomorrow’s City Council Meeting, administration will report back with options and seek approval for potential new billboard sites.