Regina bypass project 40% complete and on budget, officials say

A massive bypass project in the Regina area is 40 per cent complete and isbothon time and on budget, officials say.

The $1.9-billion project hasbeen called the largest transportation infrastructure job in Saskatchewan history.

• 12 Regina bypass webcams now online

There has been no time lost because of injuries on the job, project director Alisdair Dickinson said Tuesday.

With a substantial portion of the work done, most of his crews are headed into a well-deserved Christmas break, Dickinson said.

"We just have to keep everybody focused on what we have to achieve," he said.

"When we get to the Christmas shutdown ... then we all go and relax and get refreshed and get on with what we need to do next year."

Project to be completed in 2019

Next year, commuters will need some patience, especially in the eastern corridor between White City and Regina, officials said.

By this time in 2017, the overpasses at White City and Balgonieare scheduled tobe open.

"With the increased population on the east sideof [Regina]and the business community developing out there, the importance of getting a White City bypass up and open will really alleviate a lot of pressure," Highways and Infrastructure Minister DavidMaritsaid.

The overpass at Pilot Butte is a year ahead of schedule and is now on track to becompleted in the fall of 2018.

• Work on Regina bypass will take years to fully complete

The final completion date for the entire project the Regina bypass and various overpasses is October2019.