In releasing her report today, Saskatchewan’s Auditor found that the consequences of the Sask. Party’s mismanagement, scandal, and waste at the Regina Bypass have gone beyond the shocking increase in cost from $400 million to $2 billion. She also revealed that the Sask. Party is putting Saskatchewan roads and the safety of Saskatchewan people at risk.
“Since signing away $2 billion for the bypass to a foreign conglomerate, the Sask. Party have been syphoning off funding that should have been paying to fix and maintain highways across the province,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon.
The Auditor found that the Sask. Party has been ignoring highway safety practices – specifically weighing heavy trucks and enforcing weight and dimension regulations – which help to prevent damage to pavement and bridges. In fact, the Sask. Party have been running all provincial weigh scales 12 per cent less than the law requires.
“The Sask. Party have used the need for increased safety as a defense for the skyrocketing costs of the bypass but, the fact is, they have actually been cutting there too,” said Wotherspoon. “The Regina Bypass has already made two weigh stations obsolete and has led to one being removed. This is not acceptable.”
Damage caused to provincial highways by overweight vehicles costs the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways $10 million every year.
“The Sask. Party needs to stop mismanaging important projects and start serving those they’re supposed to be working for - Saskatchewan people,” said Wotherspoon.