The Saskatchewan Government is seeking an economic impacts study on building phase one, a winter road to Wollaston Lake.

It put out a Request for Proposals Feb. 14.

“The purpose of this study is to assess and quantify (in dollars) the socio-economic benefits of creating a highway corridor to support yearly winter access between Highway 905 and the Northern Settlement of Wollaston Lake,” the proposal reads.

“The economic impact assessment includes the impact of infrastructure construction and the overall local, provincial and national socio-economic benefits for the Wollaston Lake region, as well as Prince Albert and the region.”

The impacts study will be used to leverage federal dollars.

“We just want to make it as difficult as possible for them [federal government] to in terms of doing this work to say no to us in securing funding for this project,” Assistant Deputy Minister Blair Wager said.

Phase one of the project is estimated to cost approximately $16 million, with a majority of funding coming from Ottawa.

The winter road project was first announced in 2008 and scheduled to be completed in 2012.

(Photo: Wollaston Lake.)