Highway 10 upgrades near Flin Flon are expected to break in mid-December with no detours in place for the remainder of winter.
That’s the word from Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton, who says the massive project remains on schedule.
“Given some of the disruption you always get with a major contract, that’s good news,” he told The Reminder.
Upgrades to the 20-km stretch of Highway 10 between Flin Flon and Bakers Narrows began in 2014 with work on three intersections.
This year has been much more productive, with crews blasting away large rock ridges, widening the roadway and establishing new sections of highway to remove the steeper turns.
Before the project is complete, workers will install guardrails in “high areas” where the highway was raised up, Ashton said.
The paving component of the project will go to tender this winter with plans to start work in 2016.
Ashton noted the pavement will replace the chipseal currently on the road. Chipseal is used on many rural roads and is designed for lower traffic flow.
“The paving is more heavy duty,” he said.
“You couldn’t get a section of Highway 10 anywhere in the North, anywhere sort of north of Brandon, that would have more traffic other than maybe in and around The Pas, so it’s important to get it done.”
The province spent about $3.2 million on Highway 10 in 2014 and, according to Ashton, about $11 million in 2015. He said he’s anticipating another $2 million for 2016, but that does not include paving.
The paving budget won’t be released until the tender goes out, he said, adding that paving could extend beyond 2016.
The province has said the project would cost $20-million-plus.
Ashton said that while motorists don’t like the delays and detours stemming from the work, they will like the end result.
