Additional funds could be coming to the City of Moose Jaw’s way from the provincial Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure’s Urban Highway Connector Program (UHCP) to fix slumping issues on Highway 363. 

The work would occur for about 175 metres from Warner Street, south across Wakamow Valley to where the road straightens out and heads straight south. 

Through the UHCP, the Government of Saskatchewan would pay for the rehabilitation of the roadway. 

“After we got confirmation from the ministry that they would fund this work they had since requested that we submit this application which would complement the ministry's funding. So, if this application goes through, we would receive 40 percent funding through the federal government with the remainder to be paid by the Ministry of Highways,” said the city’s director of engineering, Bevan Harlton. 

The application from the city would be through the federally funded Disaster Mitigation and Adaption Fund. 

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has been aware of slope stability and slumping issues on Highway 363 for years, and there has been structural repairs as well as slope monitoring occurring as far back as 1997. 

Harlton said, while the province will award the tender, the city will have a say in who it will be awarded to. 

“In 2022, the intent is to confirm a design that'll be done on their end and then approved by the city, and then go to tender for construction in 2023. Where I get peace of mind in the way this program will work is that tender, before it goes out, will come through our desk with our approval,” he said. 

In July, the estimated cost of the project was $870,000, but the ministry alerted the city last month that the cost would increase to $1 million because of additional associated work such as upgrading and repaving and design work. 

When it comes to quality control, Harlton said he will have people keeping an eye on the project to make sure it is being done properly. 

“I would consider that to be similar to a development or a project where it's done by the outside force through their contract with their quality control and quality assurance, but the Department of Engineering, my group, we can be out there, whether it's for key milestones or as needed, we will be out there to make sure it's done right,” he said. 

If successful, the federal program will pay about $400,000 and the remaining $600,000 will be paid by the provincial government. Once the work is completed, the roadway will return to the city for upkeep. 

Any excess funds remaining from the project will stay in the UHCP budget for other eligible projects in the future.