FORT McMURRAY — More information is out regarding the funding and improvements planned for Highway 63 as the Alberta government responds to concerns about deteriorating road conditions.
Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen says the province is expediting a new 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.
The province has not provided specific timelines for awarding the contracts, beginning construction or completing the paving work.
Dreeshen says the highway maintenance contractor is also providing daily schedules of upcoming work and lists of completed projects along Highway 63.
The province is adding more than $22.4 million to its highway maintenance budget for additional patch paving and pothole repairs, an increase of almost 60 per cent from last year’s budget.
Of the additional funding, $15 million will be allocated directly to maintenance along Highway 63, including work through Fort McMurray.
“Our priority is to ensure Highway 63 is safe and reliable,” Dreeshen said.
“We will continue to make investments to keep our roads safe and our economy moving.”
Dreeshen credited Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean and Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao for advocating for improvements to the highway.
The announcement comes after a summer of mounting frustration over the condition of Highway 63 and Highway 881 among local businesses, residents and community leaders.
Complaints about potholes, deteriorating pavement and maintenance along the highways prompted residents to take 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.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Sandy Bowman also met with Dreeshen and provincial officials to raise concerns from residents and council about the condition of provincial highways in the region.
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.
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