Construction on several major highway projects in Saskatchewan continues, and as summer rolls on you'll see more and more construction zones in your travels around the province. The Department of Highways is hoping drivers will be appropriately cautious in those zones. 

"We view everything through the lens of safety at the Ministry of Highways, making sure that our work crews and contractors have a plan in place to keep every job site as safe as possible," Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said.  "We need drivers to remember they have a role to play as well: plan your route ahead of time, pay close attention and slow down for everyone's safety."

Under the laws in Saskatchewan, drivers face triple the usual fines for speeding in an active construction zone. There are also stiff penalties for ignoring other signs or not obeying flag workers. 

"There are going to be people out there working on the roads," said SGI media relations manager Tyler McMurchy. "And the thing that I always want to stress with that is those folks are out there working on highway infrastructure in an effort to make it safer for us all to travel. The least we can do is extend them the same courtesy and look out for their safety as well."

Not only is it courteous to keep their safety in mind, it will save you one heck of a hit to the wallet. Traveling at a standard highway speed of 100 kilometers per hour in 60 kilometers an hour construction zones will net you a fine of $1008. 

"That's a really great way to wreck your summer," McMurchy said. "It won't take much longer to get through that highway zone. Just slow down. You'll be looking out for the people working there, you'll be looking out for your fellow road users as well, many of whom will be slowing down. It's really important that you see that orange, you slow down."

The DOH encouraged travelers to check the Highway Hotline to see where there might be construction on their route before getting on the road. Highway 7 between Kindersley and the Alberta border will still have some construction left to do on it this year as the province adds passing lanes.