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Highway 16 twinning project nearly finished 1 year ahead of schedule

A $52 million project twinning the Yellowhead highway east of Saskatoon to just west of Bradwell, Sask., is ahead of schedule and nearing completion.

Funded by the government of Saskatchewan and the federal government, crews have been working since 2014, laying down asphalt and shifting Highway 16 north of Clavet and twinning 19.5 kilometres of the major highway.

The government said the project was supposed to be finished in the fall of 2017, but favourable weather and contractor resources moved up to as early as late October following completion of railway signals at a new CN railway crossing.

According to the government, this stretch of highway is an important commuter link to Saskatchewan's largest city. About 9,400 vehicles use it daily, which includes about 900 semis moving goods and accessing nearby canola farms.

"The Government of Canada recognizes that we need smart, strategic investments in safe and modern transportation infrastructure to support local, national and international trade, as well as create good, well-paying jobs that help the middle class grow and prosper," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

The Government of Canada contributed $22.8 million to the project under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component, while the province footed $29.6 million for the project.