Skip to content

Woodands County re-allocates $100K towards engineering work on two roads

County must eventually re-surface seven kilometres along Horse Creek Road and 500 metres along ANC Road
Woodlands County Sign
Woodlands County is utilizing $100,000 of the unbudgeted revenue from the sale of surplus equipment to carry out the engineering necessary for the eventual re-surfacing of two major roads.

FORT ASSINIBOINE — Woodlands County councillors passed a motion at their Aug. 17 meeting to re-allocate $100,000 in surplus revenue from the sale of surplus equipment to do the engineering work on Horse Creek Road, which is located north of Fort Assiniboine, and the Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC) road near Whitecourt ahead of an eventual re-surfacing project. 

Director of infrastructure Andre Bachand said that administration will be proposing in 2023 to resurface seven kilometres along Horse Creek Road and 500 metres along the ANC Road. 

Bachand noted Horse Creek Road was identified in the county’s asphalt road assessment as needing re-surfacing within the following two years, and 2022 was that second year. 

He indicated the re-surfacing of Horse Creek Road would cost an estimated $4.5 million, while the ANC road would cost roughly $650,000. 

In order to tender out these re-surfacing projects, however, the county first needs to have some engineering work done. 

To take advantage of early season bidding, Bachand proposed the county pull $100,000 out of the $250,000 in unbudgeted revenue they received for the sale of surplus equipment. 

When asked how many residents actually utilize Horse Creek Road, Bachand responded that there were only 10 to 12 residents living along that road, but it is also one of the main roads for agricultural operations in that area, as well as the main logging road. 

Coun. Peter Kuelken added that this particular stretch of road was put in specifically to bypass the community of Fort Assiniboine, and that it services the heavy truck industry in the Timeu area. 

Bachand also pointed out that this road was put in roughly 26 years ago, and the typical life expectancy for an asphalt road is 20-25 years. 

Division 7 Coun. Devin Williams, who represents Fort Assiniboine/Timeu, said that it doesn’t really matter how many residents live in that area as Horse Creek Road basically intersects with every road north of Fort Assiniboine. 

“That’s quite an artery for industry and farming,” he said. “It’s a very well-used road.” 

Division 5 Coun. Bruce Prestidge said councillors also have to keep in mind that if the county delays the re-surfacing to another year, the wear and tear on both roads will only worsen and it will become more expensive to re-surface them. 

Eventually, Division 1 Coun. Dave Kusch put forward the motion to re-allocate the $100,000 to do the engineering work and prepare the necessary documents for tendering out the re-surfacing.

Kevin Berger, TownandCountryToday.com

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks