Regina Bypass

Regina Bypass
Route information
Length 60 km[1] (37 mi)
Existed 2015 – present
Major junctions
  Hwy 730 (Dewdney Avenue West)
Hwy 1
Hwy 6
Hwy 33

Hwy 48
Location
Rural
municipalities		 RM of Edenwold
RM of Sherwood
Major cities Regina
Highway system
Provincial highways in Saskatchewan

The Regina Bypass is a four-lane twinned highway connector road linking two National Highway System routes in Regina, Saskatchewan. Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) and Highway 11 will be linked by this new route, forming a partial ring road around the city.

The route will replace the city's existing Ring Road as the primary urban bypass route around the city. Although originally also constructed as a bypass route around the city's urban core for through traffic, the city's urban growth since Ring Road's construction has effectively turned it into an arterial road with high traffic congestion along some portions of the route.

Phase one, east of Regina from Balgonie to Highway 33, finished on-schedule in October 2017. The remainder will finish October 2019.[2]

The project, slated to cost $1.8 billion overall, is the largest single infrastructure project in the history of Saskatchewan.[3] The bypass is owned on behalf of the public by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure with design, construction, operations, and long-term maintenance performed by the Regina Bypass Partners.

As of December 2016, construction on the bypass was 40 per cent complete.[4]

Scope

The full project scope encompasses 464 single-lane kilometers of work, roughly the distance between Regina and Medicine Hat.[5] It consists of:

  • 12 overpasses,
  • 40 km of new four-lane highway,
  • 20 km of resurfaced four-lane highway,
  • 55 km of new service roads, and
  • Twinning of about 5 km of Highway 6.[6]

The project is being built in three distinct sections: "Area 1", which will upgrade and extend the city's existing Pinkie Road into a full connection between Highway 1 and Highway 11 in the west of the city; "Area 2", which will construct a new route south of the city between Highway 1 and Highway 33; and "Area 3", which will complete the connection from Highway 33 back to Highway 1 in the east of the city adjacent to Tower Road, as well as further upgrades to the existing route of Highway 1 easterly to Highway 46.

The route will run west of the Regina International Airport.[7]

History

Plans for the Pinkie Road segment of the route were announced in 2009,[8] with the remainder of the bypass loop finalized in 2014.[9]

Pinkie Road will be a primary access highway with access points for the Global Transportation Hub (GTH). The project is undertaken by the City of Regina, Sherwood No. 159 rural municipality (RM) Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (MHI) and Transport Canada to provide an Intermodal freight transport center and the road infrastructure between two National Highway System routes.[10] C$27 million will be contributed by the Government of Canada as part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI) towards this $93 million project.[11] The provincial government will commit about $27 million to the project.[12] Former Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard discussed expanding the Government's role in the next phase of the development project.[13] The average vehicles per day (vpd) on both Hwy 1 and Hwy 11 were examined in 5 year, and 25 year projections. The traffic on Hwy 1 is expected to have an average of 10,140 / 11,210 vpd on the west and east side of the proposed interchange in five years. This amount in 25 years is expected to increase to 21,040 vpd on the west and 31, 340 vpd on the east side of the proposed interchange respectively. Hwy 11 is projected to increase from 13,060 to 23870 vpd in 25 years.

Highway 11 Regina

The new connector road across Dewdney Avenue will carry 5,500 vpd projected in 5 years increasing to 33,000 vpd in 25 years.[14] Currently the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) on Hwy 1 is 9,280 vpd west of Pinkie Road, and 11,680 on the east side of Pinkie Road. On Hwy 11 east of the interchange the AADT is 8,840. On Pinkie Road south of the interchange the traffic volume is 7,740 vpd.[7][15] John Law, deputy minister of Highways and Infrastructure estimated that it will cost about $45 million to upgrade service roads to Pinkie Road and the intermodal facility to support approximately 1,400 commercial trucks per week in the area.[16] The current proposal is looking at a 4 lane twinned highway with service roads. It will become part of the long term bypass route around Regina, and will accommodate future growth of the city to a population of 300,000.[7][17] Pinkie Road will be approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) in length.[1] The annexation of land by the city from the RM of Sherwood is being negotiated and the city will pay about $1,500,000 and supply water to the RM for the land segment.[18][19]

The city initially considered four industrial land options for development Argyle Park - IPSCO lands, Regina Airport, Ross Industrial Park and the Pinkie Road and Trans-Canada Highway areas.[20][21] In November 2007, Regina City Council examined a report which studied projected industrial growth for the city of Regina until 2027. The study proposed a new industrial area west of the Regina airport. The major roads would be constructed by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and they would be supported by a $7 million payment by the City of Regina. The city also examined at this concept plan the cost of $54 million for infrastructure servicing of facilities.[22] Regina's general manager of corporate services is looking at servicing fees and development levies to help repay the loan.[23] A 20-year time frame will extend land use to also include a light industrial park.[22] A number of open houses were held with the public to determine planning, road alignments, access points and general location of the new connector road.[24] Following the advisement of two consultation firms the City of Regina has determined to proceed with the land development and water, drainage, and wastewater management procedures outlined for the Regina Inland Port. There will be two phases of land development the land development west of Pinkie Road will constitute phase 1 and east of Pinkie Road will be Phase 2.[25]

The first overpass of the Trans-Canada Highway section of the bypass was partially finished and into operation in July 27, 2017 in the town of Balgonie.[26] The second overpass of this section of the bypass was partially finished and put into operation in August 10, 2017 in the town of White City.[27] CBC stated that the Balgonie overpass would be fully functional by Labour Day and the White City overpass would be fully functional by the third week of September, since the ramps need finishing touches. In 2016, construction began on a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at the Pilot Butte Access Road (Hwy 362); completed on March 9, 2018, it is the first DDI in Saskatchewan and the second in Canada.[28][29][30]

Cost

In 2015, the Government of Saskatchewan committed $1.88 billion for design, construction, and 30 years of operations and maintenance.[5] Of this, the construction budget is approximately $1.2 billion.[31]

The first concept of a bypass, in 2013, was considerably smaller in scope and focused only on a route to divert traffic south of the city. The Ministry of Highways had two other, related projects under consideration at that time: overpasses east of Regina to improve safety for White Butte communities, and a project west of the city to divert traffic of Dewdney Avenue. Each of these small projects were estimated at roughly $400 million. A decision was made to combine these individual components into one project, the Regina Bypass, with a cost estimate (construction only) of $1.2 billion.[31]

The project is being undertaken as a public-private partnership (P3). Financial analysis from Ernst & Young determined the P3 option was $380 million cheaper than a typical government-led build.[32]

Value for Money Comparison (2015 dollars)
Conventional Public-Private Partnership (P3)
Payments to private sector $1,646.2 M $1,787.0 M
Ancillary costs $89.0 M $45.1 M
Risks borne by government $476.9 M $49.4 M
Competitive neutrality adjustment (tax implications) $49.3 M n/a
Total NPV $2,261.4 M $1,881.5 M
P3 Savings $379.9 M (16.8%)

Other benefits attributed to the P3 include a faster construction schedule, better technology, and protection against cost overruns.[31]

Economic benefits

The Regina Bypass is Saskatchewan's single largest single job creator since the railroad crossed western Canada in the 1880s.[33] Construction alone is expected to create 8,200 jobs,[34] in addition to spin-off effects generated by capital spending. In the long-term, the bypass will enhance the productivity of local businesses by providing cheaper, faster access to major trade routes including Highway 1 east-west and the Highway 6 connections to Edmonton and the United States.

As of March 2017, construction had involved 95 Saskatchewan companies[35] including Graham, the Broda Group, Brandt, Clifton Associates, Crestview Chrysler, Fraser Strategy, Inland Aggregates, Lonesome Prairie, Urban Systems, and Noremac.[36]

Environmental and heritage impact

Burrowing owl

The proposal is studying the impact the new roadway will have on protected species of fauna in Saskatchewan such as the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), Sprague's pipit {Anthus spragueii}, peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis), monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). Flora of Saskatchewan which may be impacted would be the prairie ragwort (Senecio plattensis) and Geyer's onion (Allium geyeri). The Presbyterian Indian Residential School Cemetery is also located in this vicinity north of Dewdney Avenue and east of Pinkie Road.[37] The project is being planned to meet any requirements set forth under the Building Canada Plan as well as evaluation of project procedures for environmental concerns as set out by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.[38]

Intersections south to north

Length is approximate based on local roads currently existing.

Rural municipalityLocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Sherwood No. 159Regina00.0 Hwy 1
34.8 Hwy 730 (Dewdney Avenue West)
2642 Hwy 11
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Microsoft Streets and Tips (Map) (2004 ed.). Microsoft Corporation Redmond Washington. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ↑ "Phase 1 of Regina's $1.8B bypass is complete". Regina Leader-Post. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  3. ↑ "Province marks construction of first phase of Regina bypass, but admits to delays". CFRE-DT, December 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Regina bypass 40 per cent complete and on budget". CFRE-DT, December 13, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Regina Bypass Value for Money Report" (PDF). SaskBuilds.ca. November 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Regina Bypass Project | Regina Bypass | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  7. 1 2 3 "Proposed Alignments Diagram of proposed alignments" (PDF). About Highways/Transportation Hub/Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub. Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  8. ↑ "Changes to West Regina; Dramatic plans in the works for motorists on the west side of city". Regina Leader-Post, November 5, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Regina Bypass route finalized". Regina Leader-Post, April 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub". About Highways/Transportation Hub/. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  11. ↑ "The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan invest in Infrastructure". Transport Canada > Media Room > News Release >. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  12. ↑ Hall, Angela (January 6, 2009). "Plans for 'global transportation hub' growing". Leader Post. Canwest Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  13. ↑ "More cash for growing transport facility". Leader Post. Canwest Publishing Inc. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  14. ↑ "Forecast Daily Traffic Volumes Diagram illustrated forecasted traffic volumes on Pinkie Road" (pdf). About Highways/Transportation Hub/Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  15. ↑ "Highway Traffic Volume Map trafficvolume-2007.pdf ( 1.5 MB )" (pdf). About Highways/Saskatchewan Maps. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  16. ↑ "Loblaw announces plans to build a distribution centre". Leader Post - Canwest Publishing. Global Transportation Hub (Regina) - SkyscraperPage Forum. January 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  17. ↑ "Study Schedule Timeline for the Pinkie Road study" (PDF). About Highways/Transportation Hub/Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub. Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  18. ↑ Rhodes, Veronica (November 4, 2008). "Mayor banking on approval of annexation". The Leader-Post - Can west publishing. Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association - iCompass Technologies Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  19. ↑ Blackwell, Justin (January 29, 2008). "It's a Go For the Global Transportation Hub". News Talk 650. Rawlco Radio. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  20. ↑ Smith, Geoff (January 20, 2009). "Avison Young Forecasts More Growth for Regina". Newstalk radio 980. Rawlco Radio. City of Regina. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  21. ↑ "Newsletter Fall Winter 2007/2008" (PDF). Avison Young Intelligent Real Estate Solutions. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  22. 1 2 "EX08-46 - International Report - IMF Industrial Expansion Area Concept Plan" (pdf). Regina. Sep 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  23. ↑ Rhodes, Veronica (November 3, 2008). "City planning for inland port project". The Leader-Post - Canwest Publishing. Saskatchewan Uban Municipalities Association - iCompass Technologies Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  24. ↑ Land Use and Servicing Plans for the Regina Inland Port (pdf) (Map). City of Regina. Nov 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  25. ↑ November 5, 2008 RPC08-62 To: Members, Regina Planning Commission (pdf) (Map). City of Regina. Nov 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  26. ↑ "Balgonie overpass to open early next week". Regina Leader-Post. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
  27. ↑ "White City overpass section of Regina Bypass opens". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
  28. ↑ "Project Schedule - Regina Bypass". www.reginabypass.ca.
  29. ↑ "New diverging diamond interchange coming to Regina Bypass project". CBC News. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Sask.'s first diverging diamond interchange opens east of Regina". CTV News. March 9, 2018.
  31. 1 2 3 "Regina Bypass Project | Regina Bypass | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  32. ↑ "Ernst & Young Report Confirms Regina Bypass P3 Saves $380 Million | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  33. ↑ Wyant, Q.C., Gordon (October 25, 2016). "Hansard, October 25, 2016" (PDF). Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
  34. ↑ "Regina Bypass will Improve Safety and Save $380 Million | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  35. ↑ Wyant, Q.C., Gordon (March 20, 2017). "Hansard March 20 2017" (PDF). Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
  36. ↑ "Saskatchewan Companies Busy with Regina Bypass Construction | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  37. ↑ "Environment and Heritage concerns Discussion of potential heritage and environmental concerns" (PDF). About Highways/Transportation Hub/Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub. Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  38. ↑ "Regina becoming transportation hub - Vive" (pdf). Vive le Canada. December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
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