The Western Canadian Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) are heading to Waikiki in February 2023! Mark your calendars and plan to attend this amazing event in paradise.
More information will be released throughout 2022.
THINK: The Future of Work, Technology and Learning Conference 2022
Three years ago, no one could have predicted that we were just months away from the most disruptive event in modern history – the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has been a catalyst for tremendous change in everyone’s lives. It has disrupted the way we work and how we teach and learn. It also reminds us of how society has come to rely greatly on ever-changing technology. Could we have survived the past two-plus years without high-speed Internet, smart phones, teleconferencing and QR codes? Probably. But consider the pain and inconvenience.
To be sure, disruption was evident in workplaces even before anyone had heard of COVID. In fact, it was a key theme of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s first-ever THINK conference in May 2019.
Today, however, a new reality exists. How does one navigate this new reality?
Three high-profile speakers at THINK: The Future of Work, Technology and Learning 2022, a unique one-day conference presented by Saskatchewan Polytechnic on Thursday, May 5, will provide answers.
Construction Working Minds Summit
The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), United Suicide Survivors International and Johnson Depression Center are hosting the Construction Working Minds Summit on May 17–18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Summit aims to bring the national community of construction mental health and suicide prevention together and build community; to share lessons learned from each other; and to build a robust and coordinated vision for the future.
SHCA is an association stakeholder in CIASP, having signed the pledge to STAND Up for suicide prevention in the construction industry.
For more information about the Summit or to register, click here.
Congratulations to SHCA’s Annual Award Winners!
Congratulations to the recipients of SHCA’s annual awards; winners received their award during SHCA’s Annual Convention, which took place earlier this month in Saskatoon.
Contractor of the Year
Save the Date: See you in Waikiki!
The Western Canadian Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) are heading to Waikiki in February 2023! Mark your calendars and plan to attend this amazing event in paradise.
More information will be released throughout 2022.
Don’t Risk Your Reputation – Know your locates!
“Any time you hit a line, your company’s reputation is pulled through the mud.”
Watch this video from the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance to hear how challenging it is to deal with an underground contact, and how it harms your business and reputation.
Southeast College Heavy Equipment Operator Course
Southeast College’s heavy equipment operator course is a unique 12-week program that increases seat time in both simulation and hand-on training equipment. The course is centrally located in Saskatchewan, taking place in Estevan.
Graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to start an entry level career in various aspects of the heavy equipment industry.
Download the program information sheet to learn more.
$9.3 Million Worth of Pavement Marking Completed
Another successful year of pavement marking has concluded for crews at the Ministry of Highways.
“In 2021–22, the Government of Saskatchewan invested $9.3 million in pavement markings,” said Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw. “This important safety investment provides clear direction for Saskatchewan’s motorists, which helps decrease collisions.”
The reflective pavement marking assists drivers when it’s dark and in poor weather conditions. Between May and December, the crews repainted nearly 21,000 kilometres of centre lines and more than 38,500 kilometres of edge lines on Saskatchewan highways. If all those lines were placed end-to-end, they would be more than long enough to circle the earth.
More than 33,000 pavement signs, including arrows, medians, railroad crossings, bridge markers and crosswalks were also painted this past season.
In total, crews applied more than 1.2 million litres of paint on Saskatchewan highways.
The Ministry of Highways uses waterborne or low VOC paint on 70 per cent of centre lines and 90 per cent of shoulder lines. In addition, 1,900 drums of glass beads are added to that paint, which enhances durability and improves visibility at night.
The Government of Saskatchewan is improving more than 1,350 km of provincial highways this year, the second of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. With this year’s projects, the province is ahead of the pace needed to meet this target. Another $300 million in highways stimulus funds is being invested over several years in thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $10.6 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 17,100 km of Saskatchewan highways.
Winter Weights Removed and Spring Weight Restrictions Begin
This is the time of year when truckers and shippers must begin reducing loads on secondary highways in Saskatchewan. All secondary highways return to regulation weights, which will help prevent damage to these roads this spring.
“At various times of the year, weight restrictions are put in place on some highways as a measure to prevent damage to the surface and roadbeds,” said Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw. “As the warmer weather rolls in, some roads can become susceptible to soft spots and surface cracks.”
During the coldest months of December, January and February, roadbeds freeze and become stronger, and subsequently supports heavier truck loads.
When the mild temperatures arrive, winter weights are removed. Effective at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, any existing winter weights reverted to regulation weight.
2022 spring road bans
Spring road restrictions are used by the province and rural municipalities (RM) to mitigate damage to infrastructure. Typically, these road restrictions start in March in the southwest and move in an east and northern direction. These restrictions remain in place for approximately six weeks, or 42 days.
The road bans reduce allowable weights on RM roads and secondary weight provincial highways by 10 to 15 per cent and typically last about six weeks.
Nine-month primary weights
Saskatchewan is unique because of its nine-month primary weight highways. As a large province with considerable difference in climate in the north and the south, there are different dates for when nine-month primary weights are in effect.
In the north of the province, the annual weight increase on the nine-month primary highways is from July 1 to March 31 of the following year. In the south of the province, the annual weight increase on the nine-month primary highways will occur earlier, from June 15 to March 15 of the following year. This helps sustain road conditions in the south, where spring thaw occurs earlier.
To check which highways are impacted by weight restrictions, please visit truck weight classifications and restrictions at saskatchewan.ca/trucking. Spring road bans will be posted as necessary under the “New Spring Order” link.
To view the interactive map showing winter weight restrictions and spring road bans, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline and scroll down to restrictions. Information is also available by contacting the Highway Hotline at 511.