Regina Construction II

[Stormer]

This summer the $1.9 billion Co-op Refinery expansion will be toppled from its crown as the Regina area's largest construction project. K+S (Potash One) one of the world's largest salt and potash companies, will begin construction on its $2.5 billion greenfield solution mine 60km NW of Regina. The site is straight west of Disley on Highway 11 and just east of Buffalo Pound Lake. It includes large processing facilities, storage and handling buildings, a water pipeline and even a rail line. The feasibility study is done and they are ready to start. Many, many more construction jobs for this area...

http://www.potash1.ca/s/Home.asp

maps and info here:
http://www.potash1.ca/i/pdf/CorporatePresentation.pdf

[cutterp]

Oh boy....

I wonder if this means they will reopen the rail line through lumsden to move their product around.

I don't think too many people would like that. Although I think the line might be owned by a group of farmers and would require some maintenance as it hasn't been used for a very long time. Especially to support the weight of loaded potash cars.

It's a little scary how much water they are going to use from our drinking water supply. I guess I'm a little bit of a tree huger at heart.


***EDIT*** No Lumsden rail line needed.

[jigglysquishy]

Where is K+S locating all their office jobs? With a plant of that size I'd imagine there are at least a few hundred office jobs floating around.

Hopefully they can be lured to Regina's downtown and build another tower.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by cutterp

Oh boy....

I wonder if this means they will reopen the rail line through lumsden to move their product around.

I don't think too many people would like that. Although I think the line might be owned by a group of farmers and would require some maintenance as it hasn't been used for a very long time. Especially to support the weight of loaded potash cars.

It's a little scary how much water they are going to use from our drinking water supply. I guess I'm a little bit of a tree huger at heart.


***EDIT*** No Lumsden rail line needed.

Actually they will be linking to the Last Mountain Railway (shortline) which now operates the former CN line through Lumsden. Currently yhey would have a very few, small trains , but expect that line to be busy with Potash cars in the future.

http://www.railm.ca/lmr

Regarding water, they have contracted with SaskWater who will ensure sufficient additional water is dumped from Lake Deifenbaker into Buffalo Pound to make up for what K+S uses.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

According to the document Stormer linked to, they have an office in Saskatoon, where it will most likely remain. Regina, Moose Jaw and area will have to provide most of the workforce for the mine, which is very good news.

DJ is correct:

K+S Aktiengesellschaft is pleased to announce that Richard L. Wilson, formerly Vice President, Manufacturing for Morton Salt, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Potash One Inc. ("Potash One") effective March 1, 2011. Mr. Wilson is replacing Alexa Hergenröther, Head of Corporate Development at K+S Aktiengesellschaft, who was the Chief Executive Officer for an interim period.

Richard L. Wilson is a forty year veteran of Morton Salt and has broad experience in solution mining and processing. In his new role, Mr. Wilson will lead the management team based in Saskatoon, Canada, that is focused on the implementation of the Legacy Project, a planned K+S potash solution mining facility in Saskatchewan. "I am looking forward to the new assignment, and to the challenge of heading up a project of such strategic importance for the K+S Group," says Mr. Wilson.

The position of Chief Financial Officer of Potash One will continue to be held by Luis E. Mendoza, who was previously the Vice President of K+S North America.

Mike Ferguson, formerly Vice President, Projects at Potash One, will continue to act as Senior Vice President and Project Manager of Potash One. Erika Ritchie will continue to retain her position as Vice President Environmental & Regulatory Affairs of Potash One. Dr. Franz Xaver Spachtholz, formerly Head of General Mining Division at K+S Aktiengesellschaft, has been appointed as Vice President Engineering of Potash One.

[North_Regina_Boy]

I am really happy that this rail line will be back in use again, and to see the tracks in North Regina being used again. Although a lot of rail infrastructure will need to be improved and I would assume this would be southwards along the line as that would be the cheapest way. Although people if that is the case seeing as Regina's only CN main line out of the city goes over ring road that will make that area MUCH more rail traffic intensive with 150 car potash trains on both CN and CP.

Unless they are planning on going north thru Saskatoon with the potash? Time will tell, I personally hope it is through Regina.

[CCF]

When is the office at Albert and 11th going to begin construction? Hopefully this spring we see a few projects kick start.

[saskdave]

Miscellaneous news from Home & Garden Show:

-Gardens on Rose - 39/64 units sold - plan to start digging in a month depending on weather

-Centre Square Place - said they have just started selling but the top 2 or 3 penthouses (can't remember how many) are all sold (approx $800,000 each)

-Harbour Landing - three different condo/townhouse developments there and all of them are at least half sold out already

-Every builder you talked to said they are busy....

Dave

[Planner2008]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

I also noticed a "Proposed Mark's Work Warehouse" beside the "Zellers". I drove by Southland Mall last night and I noticed all the Zellers signs have been taken down so it has clearly been delayed or even scrapped. I still think they should move Canadian Tire there. They would do great in the mall. It doesn't look like there is room in Grasslands for them.

That's to make way for the "TARGET" coming soon signage!

[StealthGirl]

Wasn't there a rumour that Tim Hortons was going to build in Southland Mall's parking lot? Could that be one of the three?

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by saskdave

Miscellaneous news from Home & Garden Show:

-Gardens on Rose - 39/64 units sold - plan to start digging in a month depending on weather

-Centre Square Place - said they have just started selling but the top 2 or 3 penthouses (can't remember how many) are all sold (approx $800,000 each)

-Harbour Landing - three different condo/townhouse developments there and all of them are at least half sold out already

-Every builder you talked to said they are busy....

Dave

Congratulations Regina! Your city is certainly showing a lot of strength and optimism in all of the major construction projects underway. As someone from Saskatoon, I think this is great for all of Saskatchewan.
I have to say, I am a bit "jealous" of what seems to be some deep pockets of private developers seeing the potential in Regina. Saskatoon still seems to be struggling a bit with this in terms of major projects (lots of small to mid size, but still waiting on a really big project...still holding breath on our River Landing Village )

[Rodo Regina Lover]

I've been waiting decades for them to complete the lighting along the Ring Road from I think about the bridges over Wascana Creek south around to pretty much Lewvan Drive.I don't get the delay, when you drive from Medicine Hat to Redcliff they have all that section of the Trans-Canada highway lit up, and I think it looks pretty impressive. Just a thought!! Hopefully when the interchange at Lewvan Dr. is completed this fall, when they do the lighting of that project they will finish the rest of that southern section of the Ring Road!

[sask1982]

Originally Posted by saskdave

Miscellaneous news from Home & Garden Show:

-Gardens on Rose - 39/64 units sold - plan to start digging in a month depending on weather

Dave

Depending on weather? Maybe if it rains every day for the next 3 months but i think that at this point, it is a poor excuse. I could see maybe if the site was covered in 6 ft of snow, but i am pretty sure that isn't the case. Does anyone have a recent picture of the site? It's a parking lot currently, correct?

[Rodo Regina Lover]

I talked to a spokesperson for the Centre Square Condo's at the Home Show on Sun. and he said the condos were selling very well and construction would start in June! I kinda sounded a little doubtful and said to him with the recent delays with the Plains Hotel demolition and the River Landing situation in Saskatoon, ya know "like your sure June is when you're starting construction" and he sounded very adamant that they will break ground in June!!So here's hoping it wasn't all just sales talk!

[Rodo Regina Lover]

Bad idea?? All the roads in Wascana Centre have road way lighting,ALL the roads, so a major freeway is to remain in the dark, just because it runs through Wascana Centre?? That makes sense? Sorry but I don't get the logic in that at all. The future by-pass has no bearing on the currant Ring Road as there will always be heavy traffic on this freeway,by-pass or not.

[Golks]

Originally Posted by Rodo Regina Lover

I've been waiting decades for them to complete the lighting along the Ring Road from I think about the bridges over Wascana Creek south around to pretty much Lewvan Drive.I don't get the delay, when you drive from Medicine Hat to Redcliff they have all that section of the Trans-Canada highway lit up, and I think it looks pretty impressive. Just a thought!! Hopefully when the interchange at Lewvan Dr. is completed this fall, when they do the lighting of that project they will finish the rest of that southern section of the Ring Road!

The portion of the Ring Road south of Victoria Ave is maintained by the Provincial Government and could explain why there never was lighting installed.

But the city is taking over maintenance/ownership of that portion up to Lewvan and possibly as far as pinkie road in very near future.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

I am really happy that this rail line will be back in use again, and to see the tracks in North Regina being used again. Although a lot of rail infrastructure will need to be improved and I would assume this would be southwards along the line as that would be the cheapest way. Although people if that is the case seeing as Regina's only CN main line out of the city goes over ring road that will make that area MUCH more rail traffic intensive with 150 car potash trains on both CN and CP.

Unless they are planning on going north thru Saskatoon with the potash? Time will tell, I personally hope it is through Regina.

Actually I would rather they build a new railroad from the mine site to the CN Main line at Stony Beach. It is less than 15 miles (as the crow flies), and does not go through any urban area. If they reactivate the line from Lumsden to Regina then they would have to refurbish that section, improve the crossing to at least 25 streets (5 of them major roadways) and then manouver the train in a very confined switching yard. All of which would cost as much or more than a new rail road. Also I would assume that CN's long term plan would be to move the switching yard to the west of the city. Or they could just send the potash north.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Actually I would rather they build a new railroad from the mine site to the CN Main line at Stony Beach. It is less than 15 miles (as the crow flies), and does not go through any urban area. If they reactivate the line from Lumsden to Regina then they would have to refurbish that section, improve the crossing to at least 25 streets (5 of them major roadways) and then manouver the train in a very confined switching yard. All of which would cost as much or more than a new rail road. Also I would assume that CN's long term plan would be to move the switching yard to the west of the city. Or they could just send the potash north.

Are there no trains at all on the Regina section of that line now? Presently LMR would only have at most a few trains a month and they may all go north.

Potash One's line is proposed on their presentation to go straight north from the processing plant to Findlater. They state:

Line routing completed (with two additional
options)

􀂋

Land purchase for critical section completed

􀂋

Detailed engineering will confirm route

􀂋

Rail spur will be privately owned by
Potash One and will interconnect to
CN Rail (via LMR Shortline)

􀂋 Potential CP Rail connection

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Are there no trains at all on the Regina section of that line now? Presently LMR would only have at most a few trains a month and they may all go north.

Potash One's line is proposed on their presentation to go straight north from the processing plant to Findlater. They state:

Line routing completed (with two additional
options)

􀂋

Land purchase for critical section completed

􀂋

Detailed engineering will confirm route

􀂋

Rail spur will be privately owned by
Potash One and will interconnect to
CN Rail (via LMR Shortline)

􀂋 Potential CP Rail connection

I live in the NW. There has not been a train on that section for 3 years.

[boborider]

My understanding is that LMR now owns the track and rail bed and as a Short line ,they are governed by different regs as to their operation and standards. It is also my understanding that they are allowed a maximum number of cars on a train and I believe it is no more than 16. This being the case I don't believe they would be interested in running "runt trains" on the existing line into Regina. I agree that it would make infinitely more sense to construct their own line and connect north to Saskatoon. Regina is a mess with tracks running all over the place - a transportation planner's nightmare. The sooner they get rid of the in city tracks the better IMO.