Province: Expect a slow-down in road infrastructure projects as economy picks up
By Collin Gallant on November 6, 2017.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant Alberta Transportation officials have declared the 2017 road construction season a success, but warned that it may rein in a huge budget to avoid adding more debt. That could mean delays for a next-on-the-list project in Medicine Hat. Transportation Minister Brian Mason told a teleconference last week that public works construction was a sound way to bolster the economy in light of a slowdown in the oilpatch. It protects jobs while taking advantage of lower prices, he argued. However, now that the economy is improving, adding new projects is less likely in favour of arresting a growing provincial debt. “The province is in the homestretch of economic recovery,” said Mason. “It was always intended to be a measure that will not last forever. It’s a special program to deal with the economy.” Alberta’s current $29.5 billion capital plan includes $5 billion for road projects, including 349 underway this year. In total 1,500 kilometres was repaved or widened, among other projects in 2017-18, as $1.49 billion was spent. In the 2016 budget, the province’s capital construction plan included for the first time a number of “unfunded priorities.” That included a major reworking of how Highways 1 and 3 intersect in Medicine Hat. “The (unfunded list) are important projects, but ones where we don’t currently have the money,” said Mason. “It gives people a idea of the queue of projects going forward, but it all depends on out financial capacity.” See Highway, Page A2 He also voiced his support for improving Highway No. 3, though twinning the road from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge is not yet in the budget. “I’ve met with almost every mayor in southern Alberta about Highway No. 3, and that’s an important priority,” he said. Inside Medicine Hat, changing the Gershaw Drive-TransCanada Highway interchange is key, with a general plan to rework and add new access roads between it and the the South Sakatchewan River. The City of Medicine Hat’s own plan for cleaning up the entrances and exits on the TransCanada stretch between First Street S.W. and Gershaw Drive, calls for a phased approach over up to 10 years. As new access roads and off ramps are added, others would be closed to increase traffic flow. Around Medicine Hat this summer, crews completed paving on secondary Highway 523, extending from the Holsom Road in Medicine Hat. Paving also took place on Highway 3 from Junction 877 to Taber and then north on Highway 36 to Vauxhall. Those projects had a total price tag of $12.4 million. The approved construction list also includes repaving from Junction 877 east past Bow Island. Major projects completed in the province in 2017 included a new Highway 2 interchange at Red Deer, new Peace River bridge and advancements on the Southwest Calgary Ring Road. 23
-22
