The Saskatchewan government said all 13 recommendations from a report on the intersection of highways 35 and 335 will be implemented.

The intersection was the site of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that left 16 people dead and injured 13 others.

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The government commissioned the study by an independent engineering firm to review the geometric, collision, traffic, and human factor characteristics of the intersection.

Among the 13 recommendations made by McElhanney Consulting Services in the report released Wednesday are improving sight lines and adding rumble strips on Highway 335.

The report noted the Ministry of Highways removed trees within its right-of-way in October 2018, and the ones “remaining are located on private property and would require negotiation with the land owner to remove.”

Adding milled rumble strips would give Highway 335 all “the stop control enhancement recommended by (the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure),” but would require repaving to provide a “deep enough surface to mill.”

Rejected by the firm were roundabouts and a four-way stop.

McElhanney said although roundabouts can decrease collisions by up to 40 per cent, it would not be feasible at this intersection due to a traffic volume imbalance between the highways, the proximity of railway crossings, and a low collision history.

Four-way stops were rejected due to traffic volumes, and a greater risk for rear-end collisions on Highway 35.

The report also recommends moving the access road to the Cargill grain elevator south onto Highway 335.

Improvements that could be implemented quickly were given a higher priority in the implementation strategy.

Those include various sign-related enhancements, pavement messages, and constructing a new roadside memorial and access road.

The government has not set a timeframe for when the recommendations will be completed.

Safety measures added at the crash site so far include reducing the speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour, and allowing for increased safety as people stop to pay respects at the memorial site for the 16 victims.

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