MELVILLE — Provincial officials and safety advocates gathered in Melville Friday to officially kick off the 2026 road construction season, headlined by a major $17-million investment in Highway 10 passing lanes.
While the day celebrated progress on Saskatchewan's vast transportation network, the central theme remained clear: the safety of those building the roads is in the hands of those driving them.
Building the 'first leg' of global trade
Highways Minister Kim Gartner emphasized that as a landlocked province, Saskatchewan relies on its 26,500-kilometre highway network—the largest per capita in Canada. Gartner noted that the provincial economy depends on these roads to move exports, a process that ultimately supports the well-being of residents across the province.
"The transportation network moves our export-based economy, which sustains our quality of life," Gartner said. "It moves the food, fuel, and fertilizer the world needs."
Warren Kaeding, MLA for Melville-Saltcoats and Minister of Trade and Export Development, bridged the gap between local pavement and global markets. He noted that in 2025, provincial exports reached more than 160 countries.
"Our roads are very, very important to us. They are the 'first leg' of a journey to over 160 countries," Kaeding said. "What Saskatchewan produces ships around the world as part of its journey on our roads."
Highway 10 improvements underway
Gartner detailed the $17-million Highway 10 project as a regional priority. Following preliminary culvert work last fall, construction begins this year on eight passing lanes between Melville and Fort Qu’Appelle, alongside turning lanes at the Highway 47 junction and improvements to a nearby rest stop.
While acknowledging the frustration construction can cause, Gartner urged motorists to maintain perspective.
"Please remember: it’ll be worth the wait. This project’s short-term inconvenience will provide long-term gain," he said, describing passing lanes as a "cost-effective investment" to improve safety and efficiency.
The human cost of a 'near-miss’
Providing a human face to the statistics, Linden Martin, district operations manager for the Yorkton area, shared a chilling account of a 2010 incident on Highway 8. While working on a bridge project, a pickup truck ignored signage and a red light, missing Martin and his crew by a single foot.
"It really shook the three of us," Martin recalled. "No matter how many signs you have or what other kind of preventative measures you have in place, people on the road are also responsible for the safety of each and every one of us."
Martin also reminded motorists that many flaggers are post-secondary students working summer jobs.
"We want them, and everyone, to get home safely so they can start the next day."
Enforcement and accountability
Shantel Lipp, President of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, stressed that work zones are active workplaces, not suggestions.
"Behind every vest and hard hat is a person — a parent, a partner, a friend," Lipp said. "They don’t get the protection of a barrier, and they don’t get a second chance if something goes wrong. That responsibility sits with every single person behind the wheel."
The RCMP will be out in force to ensure compliance throughout the season. Inspector Lee Nelson of the Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services warned that the financial consequences of speeding are steep.
"If you continue to drive 100 km/h in a 60 km/h highway construction zone, you can be fined over $1,000," Nelson stated. He urged drivers to stay alert for unexpected hazards like bumps or objects on the road, which he noted are common within work sites.
As the province enters its busiest building season, Minister Gartner’s final plea to the public was simple: "To protect motorists, ministry crews, contractors, and anyone working on or near a road, I want to remind all drivers out there to please slow down, be patient, and be alert. We want everyone to get home safely."
