OVERPASS OPENS
Relief in White City area
It’s been years in the making and Thursday the White City overpass opened, making life safer for those living in the community.
“This is a day that is long past due ... (these overpasses have) already saved a number of lives since the project was started and they will allow us to grow and have safe access for our kids that drive down that highway to Greenall High School every day,” said Bruce Evans, mayor of White City.
The Highway 48 overpass over the Trans-Canada Highway at White City opened to traffic Thursday afternoon with the official ceremony taking place during the morning. The overpass is the second piece of infrastructure to open as a part of the Regina Bypass Project, following the opening of the Highway 46 overpass at Balgonie in July.
“We’re very excited about it ... people will now be able to commute from the area and through the area in a very safe manner at great crossings. And now we have an overpass that really will alleviate congestion,” said Minister of Highways and Infrastructure David Merritt.
The White City overpass is a diamond interchange, with Highway 48 crossing overtop of the TransCanada Highway.
“It’s great news for everyone who lives in Emerald Park, White City, anyone who has to drive by here. It’s going to save lives,” said Andrew Scheer, leader of the federal opposition and MP for ReginaQu’Appelle.
For Evans, it was a bittersweet day. During his speech he mentioned how before construction began, local firefighters would respond to a serious collision at the intersection at least once a month.
“There’s been dozens, literally dozens of serious accidents between the intersection at Balgonie and Highway 46, this intersection at 48 and the one at Pilot Butte, and fatalities. So this project and combining all of these into one project to get it finished in two years will save countless lives,” he said.
Evans teared up reflecting on the lives of those lost in collisions at the intersection. “All I can say is we have built this in part to honour your relatives’ memories ... it is a major accomplishment to have this project finished and opened for the safety of everybody.”
The new overpass also included a pedestrian walkway as part of the Trans Canada Trail system. The trail runs near the community. As part of the overpass project, White City worked to incorporate the highway crossing so the trail could wind through the community and follow Chuka Creek into Regina.
The first phase of the Regina Bypass construction between Balgonie and Highway 33 will be completed this fall, including an overpass at Tower Road. With construction of the overpass and service roads underway, people will be able to drive from Balgonie to Highway 33 without travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway. The Pilot Butte overpass will be partially open to traffic this year and fully operational next year, with the remainder of the bypass to be completed in 2019.