The final information sessions for Phase 3 of the Saskatoon Freeway Project are scheduled for June, offering residents a last chance to learn about the planned roadway. The 55-kilometre stretch of highway is divided into three phases and will include 17 interchanges, five railway overpasses, several flyovers, and one major river crossing.
Background of the Freeway Project
Commuters stuck on Circle Drive during peak rush hour may find it hard to believe that it was once considered a "super highway." According to a 1961 StarPhoenix article, construction was expected to begin within the next year, but the project was "thought of as something destined for consideration at some time in the distant future." Over time, Circle Drive became a source of frustration for drivers, particularly those commuting in the northern parts of the city. One resident wrote in 2000 that the stretch west of the bridge was a "clogged service road for businesses which have been allowed to spring up on every square inch of space along its path."
Project Details and Timeline
The Government of Saskatchewan aims to ease congestion with the Saskatoon Freeway, a horseshoe-shaped four-lane highway starting from Highway 11 south of Saskatoon, heading north and around the city, and connecting with Highway 7 west of the city. The idea for the freeway, originally called the Perimeter Highway, dates back to a 1999 study by the province, the City of Saskatoon, and the RM of Corman Park. That study concluded a bypass was needed to connect Highway 11 in the south to Highway 14 in the west.
Since then, Saskatoon's population has grown significantly. As of July 2025, the city's population is estimated between 313,255 and 319,428, compared to around 207,053 in 1999.
Phase 3 Information Sessions
Phase 3 of the freeway project features a virtual open house running from June 17 to July 3, and an in-person event at the Saskatoon Inn on June 25 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. These are the final information sessions for this phase. While the freeway is not in the distant future, the highways ministry says it is still about 10 to 15 years away. One ministry representative in 2024 suggested it could take as long as 35 years.
Environmental and Community Concerns
The freeway project has faced scrutiny and deferrals, particularly regarding Phase 2, which is planned to run through the northern tip of the Northeast Swale, just north of McOrmond Drive. Ecological groups like Swale Watchers have raised concerns that the four-lane highway would disturb the ecologically sensitive Northeast and Small Swale areas. Phase 3 will also cut through the West Swale as it moves from Highway 16, around the airport, and down toward Highways 14 and 7.
Phase 2 was deferred by city council in March 2024 and narrowly passed on a 6-5 vote when the discussion returned in May 2024.
