White City fire chief 'ecstatic' as phase 1 of Regina bypass completed

For the fire chief of the White City fire department,the overpasses completed as part ofthe Regina Bypass project havehim feeling "ecstatic."

Randy Schultz said there were many times where his department would be called out to the scene of a collisioncaused by what he called "bad decisions."

"Before the construction, I couldn't tell you how many accident scenes we were on where we were using jaws of life," Schultz said on Monday, after the province announced the first phase of the project near Balgonie and Highway 33 had been completed.

"Now, I can't tell you the last time we used our jaws."

There have been numerous collisions and deaths near Pilot Butte involving vehicles crossing atHighway 624 and Highway 1. The speed limit was lowered to 90 kilometres an hour at one point in an effort to curb the number of collisions and deaths.

Schultz further expressed gratitude that theoverpass will benefit his children. When they become drivers themselves, he said, they won't have to face the risks of crossing the highway at road level.

At the announcement Monday, Highways and Infrastructure Minister David Marit said the bypass will increase road safety and ease congestion in and around Regina.

Ongoing bypass construction

Phase 1saw overpasses builtat Balgonie, White City and Tower Road, as well as service roadsin and around Balgonie and PilotButte.

An interchange near Pilot Butte is expected to be completed next year.

Construction for the bypass has been ongoing for more than two years. The project, when it's completed, will allow travellers to avoid drivingthrough Regina by going around it instead.

The bypass is the biggest infrastructure project in the city and province's history, costing about $2 billion. Initial estimates pegged the project to cost around $400 million.

The remaining construction on the bypass is expected to be completed in 2019.