Saskatchewan Party promises to spend more on highways

If re-elected, Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall plans to increase spending on provincial highways.

The party is promising a $70-million "surge"in highway repair and maintenance over three years. That would mean the government would spend $2.7 billion on highways and infrastructure over the next four years.

The promise is part of a new Highways 2020 plan dedicated to maintain roads across Saskatchewan.

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"I spend a lot of time driving on Saskatchewan highways so I know a lot have been fixed," said Wall. "But I also know a lot still need to be fixed."

The party leader held a scrum with reporters in Silton, nearCraven, to discus the highway improvement pledge.

"We also need to be listening to communities," he said, noting that some of the highways used to access recreational areas are in need of some upgrades.

"[Communities] can make a very strong case in those areas with respect to tourism," he said.

Wall used a local business operator,D's Place ownerKaren Walker,as an example of someone who's been affected by deteriorating roadways.

"This year she has really noticed a difference. She indicated to me that business was perhaps not as good as it could have been ... because people couldn't access it, because of the roads," Wall said.

According to the party, the province has repaired and rebuilt nearly 10,000 kilometres worth of highways, and spent $5.2 billion since 2007.

The spending isin addition to the money being used to build the Regina bypass.