Construction of the new Highway 813/55 has yet to start, but it’s already behind schedule.
That’s what chief administrative officer Doug Topinka told Athabasca town council last Tuesday.
Alberta Transportation is paying for the town to relocate utilities before interchange construction begins, Topinka explained.
“I haven’t heard a word yet from (Alberta) Transportation, so until we get our funding agreement, we’re waiting,” said Topinka. “I haven’t heard from them since my meeting in early February.
“I take it that what’s happened is somewhere within their organization, the brakes have been put on.”
The original deadline of May 1 for the town to have the utilities moved is now out the window, Topinka said.
“The request from Alberta Transportation for us to be in the ground by May 1 is no longer feasible, because we haven’t tendered or anything,” he noted. The earliest date utility relocation can now begin is May 15, he estimated.
“As soon as we get the word, away we go, but until we get our funding agreement, we’re held up,” Topinka said.
“We are ready to go the second they give us the OK,” Topinka said.
Meanwhile, Topinka said an archeological study must be completed in conjunction with the construction of the new campground.
“The campground project is coming along well; however, we have been directed by Alberta Culture and Community Services to do an archeological review of the lands,” Topinka told council last Tuesday.
If they allow the town to start clearing the forest before the study, then the campground will be complete by fall, on schedule, said Topinka.
“If we can’t, we are probably going to miss the window of being able to cut the timber without the migratory birds, and that will push us back several months,” he said.
Topinka said he hopes Alberta Culture and Community Services will get back to him in the next week to say whether or not they can begin deforestation.
