Enforcement is the key to making Highway 63 as safe as it can be, according to one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo Mike Allen was in Grassland last Wednesday speaking with the first responders to collisions on the highway of death, as some call it.
Allen was gathering information and feedback for a report to Minister of Transportation Ric McIver, which he delivered on Friday.
McIver will in turn take his recommendations to Premier Alison Redford.
The highway stretches from Edmonton to Fort McMurray, and is notorious in the province for speeders, and dangerous accidents.
“I think I heard it pretty loud and clear from these guys (in Grassland); enforcement, enforcement, enforcement,” said Allen.
“Those were the three recommendations. There may be legislative changes.”
The highway is currently in the process of being twinned, but at 224 kilometres, the process is progressing slowly.
“The primary focus right now is on safety and enforcement,” he said on what the province is doing to make the highway safer until it is twinned. “Right now there are options in the courts for anyone who is speeding 50 kilometres an hour or more, it's an automatic court appearance, and the judge has the option of license suspensions.”
Two men received 45-day driving suspensions in Boyle Court last Tuesday for speeding on 63. They were also fined $500 and $1,000.
“There will be recommendations in the report that are specific towards enforcement, and increasing penalties,” he said in Grassland.
Allen described the meeting as a productive one.
“It's good to get a cross section of community representatives, and particularly with the first responders,” he said. “They are very important to all of us, and I think we all need to show that appreciation and respect, primarily in this region to all our volunteer fire departments.”
Allen said there needs to be a change in the culture of the drivers on Highway 63.
“Highway 63 has garnered a lot of attention because of the number of accidents, the serious nature of those accidents and the head on collisions,” he explained.
Many who drive the highway see dangerous driving behaviors.
“I don't think that anyone who drives the highway hasn't seen that type of behavior, and in fact you'll see it almost every trip,” he said.
“It's frustrating when you see people who are careless and reckless, and have no concern for the safety of others.”
Allen said the highway is near and dear to his heart because he lives in Fort McMurray and travels it every week.
“I was meeting with some of the elected officials from the County of Thorhild, the County of Athabasca, and the first responders to get their input on how we can look at making Highway 63 a safer passage for everyone,” he explained.
“Discussing the issues with people that are the first guys to arrive at the scene of an accident (is helpful). They see the carnage that's caused by heavy speeds, and dangerous driving practices.”
The horrific accident that killed seven people and an unborn child in late April has reminded Albertans of the urgency of twinning the highway.
“That (tragedy) got the attention of people all over the province, and in fact, it's grown to across the country,” Allen said. “Everyone is concerned about the highway project, and seeing it completed and twinned.”
Allen stated that twinning the highway would not happen overnight.
“It is something that is of importance, and really we have to come to grips with the fact that it's not going to be twinned in a year,” he said. “Those sorts of things do take more time.”
Allen explained that those who speed not only endanger themselves, but others.
“I've heard many people say, I don't care if you want to roll your vehicle and end up in the ditch and hurt yourself, just don't hurt others,” he said. “People have to realize that what they do does have the potential of having serious consequences on others as well.”
According to a 2009 fact sheet on Highway 63 released by the Oil Sands Developers Group, the highway carried the highest tonnage per kilometre in the country.
“It accommodates the largest and heaviest loads ever carried on highways anywhere in the world,” the report states. “Tens of thousands of residents and workers use Highway 63 and 881 to move between work sites and communities.”
In his report on how to make Highway 63 safer, Allen suggests accelerated twinning of the highway as well as more education and enforcement.
Allen presented the Transportation Minister with his report containing options to improve safety on Highway 63 and recommending government look at ways to accelerate twinning the highway.
“The Minister is using the report entitled ‘Towards a Safer 63’ as the basis for the options he is putting forward for Premier Alison Redford’s review,” stated a press release.
“In the past six weeks, thousands of people have shared with me their thoughts, ideas, input and their direct personal experiences about this highway,” Allen said. “Highway 63 is important for northern Alberta, the Athabasca Oil Sands Region and Alberta’s economy. Local residents and Albertans deserve a safe Highway 63 to make their living and return home safely to their families.”
Creating a safer Highway 63 will be a team effort according to the minister.
“I recognize the need for a safe, twinned, highway into Fort McMurray and am committed to making that happen,” said McIver.
In 2006 the Government of Alberta committed to twinning the highway from Highway 55 to Fort McMurray.
“In addition to 16 km of twinning that was completed south of Fort McMurray, Alberta Transportation completed 17 km of twinning north of Fort McMurray,” the report states.
“Under current plans, approximately 50 per cent of the Highway 63 twinning will be completed within the next three years.”
The cost of twinning the 240 kilometres of the highway, according to the report, is estimated to be $1 billion.
“The federal government will contribute up to $150 million toward the project under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund,” the report states. “We continue to make progress on the twinning and have completed much of the initial work, including surveying, clearing and a number of consultations.”
