City gets first look at future Saskatoon Freeway design

Saskatoon has received its first glimpse at a new freeway around the city.

The Saskatoon Freeway Functional Planning Study Design Workshop for Phase 1 was recently completed, and presented to councillors at a city committee meeting on Monday.

In the presentation, Director of Transportation, Jay Magus outlined the potential changes they’ve come up with for the future project.

Coun. Donauer says this is being planned for the next 10-20 years.

He says the province will "foot the bill". #yxe #yxecc

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A connection between the Saskatoon Freeway with Highway’s 11 and 12, would allow an overpass across Millar Avenue. Highway 11 would become a direct extension of Wanuskewin Road.

Counc. Randy Donauer re-iterated the project will be paid by the province during the committee meeting. Donauer also said their timeline for the project is still 10-20 years away.

“This is probably not happening tomorrow, it’s probably a matter of when the province has money to do it after they finish paying for the one in Regina,” he said.

Committee Chair Zach Jeffries said Monday’s update was exciting to see, and this marks the city getting closer to knowing where the perimeter Freeway will be, along with it’s impacts on the growing city.

“We’re a vibrant place to be, it’s a very exciting time in our cities history, and I think it’s incumbent upon us and upon the province to continue planning for what that bigger city is going to be like.”

Jeffries said they’ve been told in the past that people don’t think the city properly planned for the future for transportation links.

“What we’re proving through this work and all the other work that’s been happening with our growth plan is we are planning for the future, and we know that we have to take those steps in order for this to work well 10, 20, 50 years from now.”

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways will also be holding a technical briefing Tuesday on the Saskatoon Freeway.

The province anticipates the study on all three phases of the project to be done in late 2021.