Travel delays can be expected as major highway safety improvement projects begin on Highway 5 and Highway 39.

Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit says that the new passing lane projects will improve traffic flow while providing more opportunities to pass safely.

“We ask drivers to be patient in work zones or consider alternate routes during road constriction season,” said Ottenbreit.

Multiple construction crews will be working on more than 200 km of highway between North Portal and Rouleau throughout the summer.

Drivers are asked to consider alternate routes, such as Highway 33, Highway 35, or Highway 47.

The project, which is set to cost $93 million, includes five new sets of passing lanes between Hitchcock and Weyburn, about 35 km of paving, culvert replacements, a new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and various safety improvements.

Construction is also underway on Highway 39 between McTaggart to Milestone, which includes four sets of passing lanes and about 25 km of paving and crews have also begun work on 32 km of Highway 39 from Corrine to Rouleau.

Work is also underway on the $18.8 million first phase of a multi-year project on Highway 5, which includes 10 km of widening an sight-line improvements through the hills and valleys east of the old Highway 27 to Blucher.

Crews will make their best efforts to accommodate traffic during construction. There are no viable detour options around the work zones, so drivers can expect wait times close to 30 minutes.

The province says its best to use alternate routes like Highways 41,27, or Highway 16 and 2.

A weekly construction update can be found on www.saskatchewan.ca