KENASTON—Residents of Kenaston and area had a chance to view proposed changes to the community’s main intersection.
Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure put on an open house June 6 seeking people’s reactions to four options dealing with the intersection of highways 11 and 15.
As part of planned upgrades to Highway 15, the provincial government is studying options to improve the intersection of highways 11 and 15.
The current intersection is skewed, meaning the highways intersect on angles, so as part of the upgrade, the government is proposing to move the intersection to make it safer.
“It’s not very safe at all,” said Tracy Danielson, director of regional design and construction for Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure.
They had four options for people to look at. Most suggested moving Highway 15 either north or south of town.
Option 1 proposed no change and would leave it as is.
Option 2 proposed moving the intersection south of Kenaston that would require 4.73 km of upgraded Hwy. 15 and 2.46 km of service road. A new bridge/culvert and rail crossing would be required. As well, this route would require the highway to be constructed on environmentally sensitive grasslands south of Kenaston.
Option 3 offered moving the Highway 15/11 intersection north of town requiring 2.90 km of Highway 15 to be built and a service road of 1.83 km in length.
Option 4 also proposed moving the intersection north of the village, but giving the village even wider berth so that 4.84 km of highway 15 and 2.76 km of service road would be built. As well, this option needs either a new bridge or culvert and a railway crossing.
“They missed the most important option: an overpass,” Kenaston resident Allan Krpan said. He said that with 12,000 vehicles going by each day, the intersection is one of the busiest in Saskatchewan.
Kenaston’s Mayor Dan O’Handley said he liked Option 4 the best.
“The noise level would be cut way down and by looping way north, we have room for northern expansion,” he said.
Increasingly, Highway 15 is experiencing more heavy truck traffic. It has been designated as a high clearance corridor through Saskatchewan.
Transport trucks hauling very tall loads must travel Highway 15 so they can use the bridge in Outlook to get their cargo across the South Saskatchewan River.
“For us tonight, the most important part is finding out what people who live in the area think about it,” Danielson said.
She said the community should hear back within 12 months on the plans for the intersection.
“We don’t have a specific timeline, nor is there a design or budget in place,” she said.