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FORT McMURRAY — Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo council has voted to make a pilot project allowing off-highway vehicles on some Abasand roads permanent.
The bylaw, approved at an April 14 council meeting, allows OHV use on municipal roads in the neighbourhood when travelling between homes and designated staging areas or gas stations.
Mayor Sandy Bowman says the pilot, introduced in 2024, improved rider experience, increased safety on trails and reduced damage to greenspaces by directing traffic onto controlled routes.
Council’s decision follows public engagement throughout the pilot, including feedback collected before launch and during one- and two-year reviews. The municipality says most participants supported the project during each phase.
As part of the bylaw, council approved a new requirement for signal lights on all OHVs operating on Abasand roads. Enforcement will begin in October 2026 following a six-month transition period, allowing riders time to install signal kits where needed.
The bylaw applies only within Abasand, and riders must continue to follow all provincial and municipal regulations elsewhere in the region.
Officials say enforcement will continue across Wood Buffalo, including the use of drones, to keep OHVs off trails, greenspaces and roads outside designated areas.
Bowman has also given notice of a motion for a May 12 council meeting to explore expanding similar pilot programs to other neighbourhoods.
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