There is additional funding on the way for rural municipalities in the province to repair, rebuild and maintain the critical network of rural roads. The third phase of funding, amounting to $25.7 million, has been allotted to 69 RMs across the province. It’s part of the provincial government’s Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) program. 

"The ministry has seen an engaged and enthusiastic response to the RIRG program," Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said.  "This targeted effort improves the safety and quality of our rural infrastructure, strengthens partnerships with Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, our rural municipalities and creates another outlet to aid the province's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."

As important as economic recovery is the critical role rural roads play in the connectivity of the province. While the Ministry of Highways has responsibility for over 20,000 kilometers of paved roads, rural grids and paved surface roads maintained by RMs are the transportation lynchpin for agriculture, mining, tourism, health care, and business. 

A key example of how important that funding can be is primary grid 668 maintained by the Rural Municipality of Usborne. The paved road connects Highway 16 and the Lanigan Nutrien Potash Mine to the communities of Manitou Beach and Watrous. It’s a heavily travelled north south corridor that demands a large portion of the RM’s maintenance budget. The RM has been awarded $500,000 through the program. While the council in the RM of Usborne has not met to determine the exact targeting for the funding since the announcement, it is likely that 668 will be a main objective.

“There’s lots of commuter traffic, tourist traffic, gravel hauls, and mine traffic, so it is a busy highway,” says Anna Rintoul, administrator for the RM of Usborne. 

The 668 corridor was turned over to the municipality several years ago, reports Rintoul, so the sole responsibility for its maintenance rests on the RM. The road has seen additional traffic since the flooding around Little Manitou Lake has effectively cut off Highway 365 from being a summer tourist pathway to Manitou Beach. 

The additional funding will also make its way to maintenance and improvements on key grid roads throughout the RM, as it will support the efforts in other RMs that have been granted funding through the RIRG program. 

"The announcement of expanded financial support for rural road infrastructure is greatly appreciated," Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities President Ray Orb said.  "Economic recovery and funding to stimulate the provincial economy remains critical and this increased funding ensures our rural municipalities can contribute by investing in rural infrastructure that is supporting Saskatchewan's rural-based industries."

Other regional RMs receiving funding include the RMs of Morris, LeRoy, Colonsay, Ponass Lake, Pleasantdale, Lake Lenore, Hoodoo, and Fish Creek.