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One of the projects that has been seemingly shelved by the economic slowdown in southeast Saskatchewan, and the corresponding drop in revenues for the provincial government, has been the twinning of Highways 39 and 6 from the U.S. border to Regina.

Remember that triumphant day in August 2013 when Premier Brad Wall came to Estevan and announced that the province was looking at twinning as the future for those two highways?

A lot of people were thrilled with the announcement, particularly those who regularly travel from Estevan to Regina. Many of them use Highways 47 and 33, because they’re skittish of using Highways 39 and 6, thanks to the heavy truck traffic.

But in the last two provincial budgets, the government has vaguely stated they’re studying a combination of twinning and passing lanes for Highways 39 and 6.  

Passing lanes have been widely panned from the outset. It’s a good idea for a highway such as No. 10 from Balgonie to Yorkton, because there is a lot of traffic, but the heavy traffic numbers aren’t overwhelming. 

But for a highway as No. 39, with all the semi-trucks and heavy trucks used in the oilfield, passing lanes won’t improve safety.

Furthermore, if the government goes with the conventional design for passing lanes, it will create traffic flow problems. The passing lanes are typically two or three kilometres long, which won’t be long enough to clear the traffic bottlenecks frequently seen on Highways 39 and 6.

Also, motorists travelling in the opposite direction of the passing lanes will not be able to pass for those two or three kilometres, creating additional traffic problems.

Twinning is the only viable option for Highways 39 and 6. We understand the provincial government is experiencing a revenue shortfall at this time. But spending money on passing lanes will be a waste.

It would be better for the government to twin a few short stretches of five to 10 kilometres in the busiest areas – Highway 39 from Estevan to Hitchcock, Highway 39 east and west of Weyburn, and Highway 6 south of Regina – rather than to forge ahead with passing lanes.  

As the economy improves, and the province has more money, then they can go after the next priority areas, such as twinning the rest of Highway 39 from Estevan to Weyburn.

After all, the economy will get better, and starting the twinning process is one way to prepare. 

It’s great the government decided to move ahead with twinning a portion of Highway 39 east of Estevan. That was one of the busiest undivided highways in the province for years. Something needed to be done, and this measure will improve safety on that road once it is finished.

But it can’t be the end of the twinning for the highways from North Portal to Regina.