Highway 63 construction increasing this summer and on schedule, says McIver

Construction for twinning Highway 63 by 2016 is on schedule, according to transportation minister Ric McIver, and twinning this summer will focus on tree clearing, grading, bridge construction, paving and utility moves.

“The scheduling is overall great,” said McIver during a Friday morning visit to Fort McMurray. “Skeptics are always there but I think some of the skeptics are coming around. The only thing that will make skeptics come around to believing we’re going to do it is showing them the evidence themselves.”

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Transportation to revisit plans after contentious Highway 19 meeting

An overwhelmingly negative response to the province’s plans for a realigned Highway 19 and the Edmonton International Airport’s preferred location for a third runway may soon lead to new options being put on the table.

A public meeting on the updated plans packed out a Nisku Inn conference room on Tuesday, Mar. 19. Hundreds of community members, many farmers from the land surrounding the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) and along the highway, came out to hear plans and ask questions of representatives from the airport and the province.

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Public open house on Highway 19 plans set for March

The public will soon be getting the chance to be heard and to receive an update on plans for the eventual twinning and realignment of Highway 19.

Provincial representatives have confirmed that in the next few days an announcement will be made of a March 19 public open house at the Nisku Inn regarding the province’s plans for the highway.

Michael Pylko, construction manager for Alberta Transportation, confirmed that the meeting will be taking place.

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Open house identifies Highway 1 options for Springbank area

Close to 70 people packed into the Springbank Heritage Hall on Feb.13 just after 6 p.m. to learn more about future upgrades for sections of Highway 1.

Arthur Gordon and Mario Kotowski with CastleGlenn Consultants Inc., the group conducting the study, updated the crowd on their findings for the Highway 1 corridor between Range Road 33 and Stoney Trail.

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Hwy 791 upgrading dropped from province’s plan

A project to upgrade a highway in Red Deer County that was counted on to ease congestion on a local service road has been dropped from the province’s three-year plan.

The $16.4-million project was first announced in 2010 and involved extending Hwy 791, which currently ends at Hwy 590, eight km east of Innisfail, where the road continues north as an unpaved route.

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Open house identifies long term plans for Hwy 22

A third open house to discuss future upgrades of Highway 22 between Highway 8 and the Cochrane south boundary, including the interchange on Highway 1, was held at the Springbank Heritage Club, Jan. 31.

“There has been significant growth on Highway 22,” explained Chris Delanoy, with ISL Engineering, the group hired to conduct the study and gather feedback from the public for Alberta Transportation (AT).

“The need to twin will be required,” he added.

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Highway 63 twinning still priority despite budget shortfall: Allen

Even with “tough choices” facing Alberta’s budget and financial forecast, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen is still expecting the province to complete the twinning of Highway 63 by 2016.

“I haven’t seen the budget yet and I can’t give you full disclosure or confirmation about what’s on it, but we’re funding Highway 63 and the timeline differently,” Allen told Today. “I personally believe it will continue on its path by fall 2016.”

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Future use of Cambrian Crossing property up in air

Discussion surrounding Cambrian Crossing, a proposed 7,200 population development just north of Sherwood Park, is expected to return to Strathcona County council this month.

The project, located north of Highway 16 between Clover Bar Road and Highway 21, was approved by council in January 2011 and is a joint effort between Strathcona Countyand Cambrian Group.

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