Part of new Saskatchewan overpass too small for farm equipment

Jul 31, 2017

The Balgonie overpass opened last week

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

A Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure project isn’t capable of accommodating farm equipment, according to one local farmer.

The $1.88 billion Regina Bypass will consist of multiple overpasses in communities like Balgonie, White City, Tower Road and Pilot Butte upon its full completion in 2019.

The Balgonie overpass opened to the public last week. The overpass is constructed to allow travelers to cross the Trans-Canada Highway with ease.

“The design of the Balgonie overpass includes two roundabouts, which are designed to accommodate large vehicles such as agricultural equipment…” says a July 20 Government of Saskatchewan release.

But that’s not entirely the case, according to Ryan Leibel, a farmer from Balgonie, Sask.

“I tried to make the maiden voyage and try (the overpass) out,” he told CTV Regina. “I realized quickly it wasn’t quite wide enough.”

The actual overpass is wide enough to accommodate large pieces of agricultural machinery. It’s the access lanes that are problematic for farm equipment and transport trucks.

The access lanes are only about 4.5 metres (15 ft) wide and Leibel’s tractor is about 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide. Leibel’s tractor showed the lack of space as the tires scraped the curbs, according to CTV Regina.

And a walking measurement of Leibel’s combine shows it’s about 18 ft wide.

Officials are expected to visit the Balgonie overpass to determine what, if any, changes need to be made.

Farms.com has reached out to the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure for more information on the planned site visit, and to the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan for more producer feedback on the roundabout.

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