Projects ready to go: Saskatoon Mayor says infrastructure projects waiting for funding

Saskatoon's mayor says there are plenty of projects ready to go if federal stimulus money comes through.

Don Atchison said a report by Bloomberg News, which said the federal government is in talks to allocate $1 billion for infrastructure projects to Saskatchewan and Alberta, is "wonderful news".

"We certainly have a lot of projects that are ready to go. They are on the shelf right now; we can get them dusted off pretty darn quick and get them out there," he said. "I think the sooner we do them the better."

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The top priorities would be sewer and water projects, which were scheduled to be tackled in 2016 already, and building interchanges, Atchison said. He pointed to interchanges at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16,McOrmond Drive and Highway 5,Marquis Drive, Highway 11, Highway 12,and Marquis Drive and Highway16.

Atchison said that before any action can be taken, the city will need information around the details and the dollars.

"What are the details? How is it going to be shared amongst the different levels of government or will it be shared?" Atchison asked. "Those are questions that still need to be answered, but we are anxious and ready to go."

Saskatoon's steady growth in population and GDP over the past decade showa need for infrastructure investment, Atchison said. He added that Saskatoon has one of the most balanced economies in the country.