A deadly crash on Circle Drive has again raised concerns over the need for barriers on a stretch of the Saskatoon freeway.
A 34-year-old man died in hospital Thursday after his car was involved in a head-on collision with a semi.
The crash happened during the afternoon rush hour Wednesday on Circle Drive East near Attridge Drive.
A three-vehicle collision on the same stretch of Circle Drive claimed the life of a 70-year-old man on Sept. 7, 2016.
Depending on the outcome of a police investigation into the latest crash, the city said it would consider another look into whether barriers should be added along Circle Drive between 108th Street and Attridge Drive.
Currently, the stretch of freeway is divided by a ditch.
Saskatoon’s Director of Transportation, Angela Gardiner, said an assessment in 2016 determined barriers were not needed along Circle Drive near Attridge – adding barricades aren’t a requirement from Transportation Canada.
She said the review included a five-year collision history, as well as considerations of the speed limit and curve of the road.
“Any time there’s a collision it’s concerning for everyone in the community,” Gardiner said.
She estimated it would cost $500,000 to place barriers along the specific stretch.
The preliminary investigation into Wednesday’s collision has determined a small hatchback car crossed the dividing ditch from southbound traffic into the northbound lanes at approximately 5:30 p.m., striking a semi truck.
Alcohol and speed aren’t believed to be factors, but police haven’t determined a further cause to the collision. They’re asking anyone with dashcam footage of the crash to come forward.
—With files from 650 CKOM’s Chris Vandenbreekel