Bypass job on track, manager says
Province’s biggest transportation project should be competed by the end of October
Take a drive east of Regina and you’re bound to wonder: How on Earth will the first phase of the Regina Bypass be ready by the end of October?
But Garrett Doyle, area 3 manager for Regina Bypass Design Builders, has no doubt the deadline for Phase 1 of the bypass will be met.
“Absolutely, we’re on track to open the east portion by Oct. 31,” Doyle said.
Phase 1 involves the upgrade of the Trans-Canada Highway from just east of Balgonie to Tower Road and then the construction of a new section that will take the highway around Regina and connect to Arcola Avenue and Highway 33.
On Wednesday, south of the Trans-Canada, large pieces of equipment were grading and moving mountains of earth.
Progress was more visible on Tuesday when the new eastbound lanes opened on the Trans-Canada — from east of Pilot Butte to Tower Road.
“Last year, we upgraded both the eastbound and westbound lanes to just east of Pilot Butte — so from Balgonie to Pilot Butte,” Doyle said. “This year, we’re upgrading the lanes from Pilot Butte to Tower Road.”
It took 10 weeks to complete the eastbound lanes. Now the westbound lanes are closed for upgrades.
“Those will likely open in late September,” Doyle said.
To ensure the project is complete on time, a number of milestones have to be met this summer, he said.
“The first of those was back in early June when we closed Tower Road and opened the new south service road from Highway 33 right through to Great Plains (Road),” Doyle said.
That happened on schedule. The next milestone to meet was the traffic switch put in place on Tuesday.
The dry weather has helped keep the project on schedule, Doyle said.
Between Graham Construction, Parsons Canada, Carmacks Enterprises and Vinci Canada employees, he estimates 900 people and a few hundred machines are involved in Phase 1.
“We contract some work to local entities as well so we have ample resources to complete the work,” Doyle said.
Risks — such as poor weather or difficulty procuring materials — were factored in the planning stages of the project, he said.
“We have contingency plans for all of those key risks,” Doyle said.
Those plans could include extending working hours — although, in some areas, labourers are already working around the clock.
The project is in varying states of completion so it’s difficult to say how many total kilometres have been completed, Doyle said.
On the Trans-Canada, there are approximately 80 kilometres to upgrade — about 20 per cent has to be completed.
The bypass is the largest transportation project in the province’s history. The scope of the project consists of 12 overpasses, 38 bridges, 45 kilometres of new four-lane highway, 21.4 kilometres of resurfaced four-lane highway and 54.4 kilometres of new service roads.
The design process started in July 2015 and on-site work began in September of that year.
A lot of big earth moving equipment is involved in Phase 2, which runs from Highway 11 in the north, west of the city to the Trans-Canada and then south and east of Regina to connect to Highway 33. That phase of the project is progressing and slated to open Oct. 31, 2019.
Doyle noted the work on the Trans-Canada has had a major impact on the public — both on the road and in the community.
“People have been very supportive of the work being done and been diligent in obeying the speed signs, which has made the work safer for the travelling public and for our guys working adjacent — so thank you for that,” he said.
People have been very supportive of the work being done and been diligent in obeying the speed signs, which has made the work safer …