YORKTON — A major transportation corridor north of Yorkton is set for long-awaited improvements as the Government of Saskatchewan announced Wednesday it will cover up to half the cost of upgrading Grain Millers Drive.
The road is a vital artery for the city and the surrounding area, providing direct access to some of the largest agriculture processors in the country. For years, local leaders and industry partners have called for upgrades to the seven-kilometre stretch, which currently has 4.5 kilometres of gravel between two paved ends.
With the province’s commitment, the City of Yorkton, the Rural Municipality of Orkney and the Ministry of Highways are launching a functional planning study to determine what improvements are required and how best to prepare the road for current and future industrial growth.
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said the announcement marks a turning point after more than a decade of discussion.
“This isn’t just about improving a road,” Kienle said. “This is about creating a true highway connector, one that will better move products, support business growth and open up new opportunities for our community and our region.”
Grain Millers Drive is home to some of the region’s most significant employers. Grain Millers Oat Mill, Richardson Oilseed — the largest canola-crushing facility in North America — and the Louis Dreyfus Company’s canola plant all sit along the route. Louis Dreyfus has also announced plans to build a new pea protein production facility in the area.
Combined, these facilities employ hundreds of workers, rely on farm deliveries from across east-central Saskatchewan and contribute billions to Canada’s agriculture export sector.
Kienle said the provincial commitment gives confidence not only to existing companies, but also to potential investors eyeing Yorkton as a hub for agricultural processing.
“They’ve invested heavily in our community and this project is one more way that we can support them so they can continue to thrive and grow here in Yorkton,” he said.
The improvements are also expected to shift heavy truck traffic away from York Road, a busy connector inside city limits, improving safety for residents.
Premier Scott Moe, who made the announcement at Richardson Oilseed, called the project a signal of confidence in Yorkton’s role in the provincial economy.
“It’s only seven kilometres long at Grain Millers Drive, but it supports so much of our exporting industries and supports so many of the jobs and the wealth that we have in our communities.”
The Premier noted that the investment is part of about $750 million in transportation infrastructure spending across Saskatchewan this year. In the Yorkton area alone, more than $10 million has gone into repaving sections of Highways 10 and 16, with additional work on Highways 8, 38 and 49.
“These highways and that transportation infrastructure move the food, fuel and fertilizer that drive our economy here in Yorkton and across the province,” Moe said. “But they also need to be safe for the families that live in our communities and travel those same roads.”
The functional study will examine paving options for Grain Millers Drive and improvements to its intersections with Highways 9 and 16. While there is no set timeline for construction, Moe said the goal is to proceed “as soon as possible” once the study is complete.
“The province will be a 50 per cent partner in this project,” Moe said. “This is giving suppliers and shippers dust-free access to both Highway 16 and Highway 9, connecting them to the world.”
He emphasized that the project is not just about today’s needs, but about ensuring Yorkton can support new industry for decades to come.
“This is a road built not only for the industry that is using it today, but for the industry that we intend on attracting tomorrow.”
While the focus is local, the provincial government underscored the broader impact of the investment. Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector accounts for billions in exports annually, with canola alone representing a $45-billion industry that employs more than 200,000 Canadians.
“About $4 billion of agricultural products flow to China each year from Saskatchewan,” Moe said. “We need to continue to work with the federal government to secure those markets, but we also need to ensure the infrastructure here at home supports producers and processors.”
He added that by reinforcing Yorkton’s role in processing and exporting, provincial officials believe upgrades to Grain Millers Drive will benefit not only east-central Saskatchewan but also the provincial economy as a whole.
Moe said the project demonstrates Saskatchewan’s ability to adapt to global trade challenges while continuing to build capacity for the future.
“Despite all the trade challenges we are seeing globally, we are here as a provincial government joining with municipalities and investing in more infrastructure that is beneficial to the families and the people that work in the ag industry in Yorkton.”
Kienle added that Yorkton is financially prepared to meet its share of the costs once the study is complete.
“We have a very low amount of cash borrowed, a good amount of rainy-day funds and we’ll be ready to go as soon as this is ready.”
No exact price tag has been set for the whole project, but all three levels of government — the province, Yorkton and the RM of Orkney — have committed to working together on next steps once the planning study is finished.
