Volunteer uses roller to patch potholes on provincial highway 63
FORT MCMURRAY — The Alberta government is providing an additional $15 million for maintenance on Highway 63 following months of public frustration over deteriorating road conditions.
The funding is part of a $22.4-million increase to the provincial highway maintenance budget announced Sunday by Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen. The province says the additional funding represents an almost 60 per cent increase from last year’s budget and will support more patch paving and pothole repairs.
Dreeshen credited Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean and Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao for advocating for improvements to Highway 63.
The funding announcement comes less than a month after public frustration over the condition of Highway 63 culminated in residents taking road repairs into their own hands.
In June, volunteers gathered to repair a section of Highway 63 as it passes through the Fort McMurray urban service area despite warnings from Wood Buffalo RCMP about safety risks and potential legal consequences.
The citizen-led effort followed growing complaints about potholes, deteriorating pavement and maintenance along Highways 63 and 881.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Sandy Bowman met with Dreeshen and provincial officials in June to discuss concerns raised by residents and council.
Following the meeting, Bowman said the province committed to accelerating pothole repairs, road maintenance, highway cleaning and line painting, while providing public updates every two weeks on planned maintenance work.
The province also agreed to explore a potential partnership with the municipality to have the RMWB assume responsibility for spring and summer maintenance along Highway 63 between the municipal landfill and the Highway 686 turnoff.
Dreeshen said the highway maintenance contractor is now providing daily schedules of upcoming work and lists of completed projects along Highway 63.
The province says it is also expediting a contract to repave 48 kilometres of the southbound lanes of Highway 63 near Wandering River.
Another contract will cover paving work along 30 kilometres of Highways 63 and 881 in the Fort McMurray area.
Dreeshen said the province’s priority is keeping Highway 63 safe and reliable while supporting the movement of people and goods.
Comments