For the next couple of years, the east hill in Athabasca will be a construction zone.
Alberta Transportation is relocating and reconstructing the Highway 55 and Highway 813 intersection.
This involves realigning the Tawatinaw River.
“Both of these improvements are to address the issues with continual ground movement of the valley slopes that impacted the current structures,” the project outline reads.
The project is also going to involve widening Highway 55 to allow more traffic to flow through the town without any problems.
The first stage of the project is to create a new bridge.
“In stage one, a detour road will be provided for Highway 55 users to allow for the start of construction for the new Tawatinaw River Bridge,” the report reads. “This bridge work will extend into 2012 and include foundation excavation, pile driving, abutment construction, girder fabrication and erection, and deck construction.”
The second stage is the realignment of the river.
“During this time period the new channel for the Tawatinaw River will be constructed,” the plan reads. “When complete, the river will be diverted into the new channel and the spawning marsh on the south side of Highway 55 will be constructed. From a roadway perspective, Highway 813 will be realigned and 50th Ave will be extended to the new highway intersection.”
The final stage of the project is to remove the current bridge.
“Once complete, Highway 55 will be reconstructed to fill the void left by the bridges. All remaining drainage requirement will be completed along with permanent erosion and sediment control devices,” states the report. “Portions of both Highways 55 and 2 will be paved and illumination of the newly completed intersection will be undertaken.”
Local resident David Powell says the best thing Alberta Transportation can do is communicate.
“I understand this is a three-year project, and everybody is going to be inconvenienced for a long time because of it,” he said. “Articles, signs, radio spots, whatever. The inconvenience itself can't be helped much, so make sure people understand what's going on.”
Trent Bancarz of Alberta Transportation said the detour isn’t as wide as a regular highway.
“It wouldn’t be the width of a standard highway, because it’s just a detour road. It’s just meant to be used temporarily.”
As far as the disruptions the detour is causing, Bancarz said that when you get construction, you are likely to get delays.
“What we’ve done is put a detour in place, and drivers can use the detour,” he said. “It’s not like the detour is taking you kilometres out of your way. We tried to minimize the disruptions to traffic as best as we could, while still allowing us the room to get the project done. Use caution on the detour and through the construction area.”
