“ Despite COVID-19 and all of the
additional precautions that were
put in place, we actually had a
really productive year in 2020.”
– Shantel Lipp, Saskatchewan Heavy
Construction Association
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BENEATH
THE SURFACE
BEHIND
THE SCENES
Leaders in
Civil Construction
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know if part of that was because there were fewer people on the roads and
that meant fewer obstacles and fewer shutdowns at certain times.
“It was a banner year for road construction in terms of the amount of
work we accomplished.”
Early in the pandemic, road builders and the work they do was considered
by the government an essential service. Lipp praised SHCA members
for their dedication to adhering to enhanced health and safety protocols
that were introduced last year.
Safety meetings became virtual or were altered for those in a!endance
to be physically distanced. Equipment was frequently sanitized throughout
the day, hand-washing stations were added to job sites. "ose were just a
few of the adjustments that crews made to enable them to safely work a full
season during a pandemic.
Because of their actions, there were no major outbreaks of the virus on
job sites across the province.
“"e guys were extra diligent because they knew that should a COVID
outbreak happen on their job site, they were going to be shut down for two
weeks,” she said. “And you talk to any contractor, they’ll tell you that they
can’t a#ord to be shut down for two weeks.”
"e look was similar in Manitoba, a province that enforced a full lockdown
for several months in 2020.
Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction
Association, says his members continued working last summer through
adjusted procedures. He says daily temperature screening was common on
job sites, as were virtual meetings with occupational health and safety o$-
cials to ensure everyone knew what was expected.
“Our industry has been permi!ed to continue providing its construction,
maintenance and rehabilitation services throughout the pandemic, so
we’re very grateful for that,” he said.
Viewed as an economic driver, the road building industry will be relied
upon to stimulate the local and national economies post-pandemic.
Provincial governments and the federal government already have indicated
additional spending for this sector.
Road improvements are coming to more than 50 rural municipalities
across Saskatchewan, thanks to $16.5 million in funding from the provincial
government’s two-year, $7.5 billion infrastructure stimulus plan.
"e funding is part of a three-year plan with the Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities to upgrade municipal roads, bridges
and culverts.
In Manitoba, the provincial government unveiled last summer the
$500-million Manitoba Restart Program. Of that funding, approximately
$150 million is dedicated to resurfacing more than 240 kilometres of provincial
highways and $65 million for major projects that will improve highway
safety.
FEATURE
34 Think BIG | Quarter 2 2021 | saskheavy.ca
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