BARRHEAD - The good news is that Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has done some preliminary work needed to replace the aging Athabasca Bridge on Highway 33, about two minutes south of the Hamlet of Fort Assiniboine, shaving off a year to a year-and-a-half of time to replace the structure.
The bad news is that the bridge's replacement is, in all likelihood, several years away.
That is what Alberta Transportation north central and Fort McMurray regional director Michael Botros told Woodlands County councillors during a special council meeting in Whitecourt Aug. 30.
Council invited Botros to the meeting to discuss multiple concerns regarding Highway 658 near Blue Ridge and Fort Assiniboine, along with concerns addressed by the Freeman River RV Park Campground owner about Freeman River encroachment on Highway 33.
However, the condition of the Athabasca Bridge was top of mind.
Later in the meeting, council unanimously approved administration’s recommendation to write a letter to Alberta Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen, outlining the municipality's concerns for proper infrastructure funding and a proactive approach towards foreseeable infrastructure maintenance.
On Aug. 10, part of the bridge's concrete in the middle of the driving lanes gave way, leaving a hole roughly three-and-a-half to four-feet wide and six-feet long on the bridge. The damage has been repaired.
Fort Assiniboine/Timeu Coun. Devin Williams asked about the bridge's condition and lifespan, specifically when the structure needed replacing.
Botros said that while each bridge is unique, Alberta Transportation generally uses 75 years as a general guide for the lifespan of a bridge, noting the bridge south of the hamlet is roughly 68 years old.
"Most bridges, as they get closer to the latter part of the life, start showing their age," he said. "But we try to get as much life out of a bridge as possible and time its replacement when it actually has to be taken out of service."
Botros added when compared to other bridges of similar age and condition, they are ahead of the game as the department in 2014 completed a bridge planning study, essentially pushing the project along by a year to a year and a half over what it might have been.
As part of the process, he noted the ministry held two open houses in the hamlet, asking residents for their input, including the location of the bridge's replacement.
"I think we presented six different alignment options and corridors, and based on everything, the conclusion was the replacement would be next to the existing bridge on the upstream side to avoid any conflicts with utilities," he said. "So the biggest hurdle is done."
Botros added that the 2023 provincial budget provided the funding to complete the engineering and design for the new bridge.
He said Alberta Transportation is working on terms of reference and expects to have a project consultant in place by late fall.
Once that is done, Botros added, they can begin the engineering process, which is expected to take a year to a year and a half in earnest.
At the same time, he said, Alberta Transportation would begin negotiating with landowners to acquire the necessary lands.
He also noted his department is preparing the 2024 budget, and one of the projects put forward for consideration is the bridge's construction.
"That way, once the engineering is complete and if all the permitting is approved, we can move right into construction," he said.
He noted that the permitting process is the most complicated and out of the province's hands.
"We need to get permits from the federal government from the Department of Ocean and Fisheries and Nav Canada as the (Athabasca River) is a navigable water course," Botros said.
Goose Lake/Freeman River Coun. Peter Kuelken interjected that the deteriorating bridge condition is well-known in the community, saying that local jet boat operators have seen first-hand bridge pieces fall into the river.
He then asked if there was anything the municipality could do to lobby the federal government to expedite the permitting process.
Botros did not want to speculate, saying it was up to the municipality to decide if and how to deal with the two federal departments.
Whitecourt Central Coun. Alan Deane asked what lands the province would need to purchase for the new bridge.
Botros replied that they would need the municipality's Mouth of the Freeman River day-use area on the Fort Assiniboine side of the Athabasca River, while he was not sure who owned the property on the adjacent side.
Blue Ridge Coun. Bruce Prestidge said the county also had concerns about the bridge that crossed the Athabasca River on Highway 658 and said he started documenting the river in 2016.
"The full abutment was there," he said. "Now you are probably 50 feet away from the bridge. The whole river channel has moved north about 150 feet. If we have another flood like we had this year, it will be right at the road."
Botros said to address the issue with the abutment last winter, but they could not secure the proper permits from the federal government.
He added that they have also conducted two surveys, one before and one after the latest flood, to map out the riverbed and are in the process of updating their designs.
"Our intention is to put out a tender later this year to build spur dikes, and you should see some construction activity both upstream and downstream of the bridge," Botros added.
Kuelken said that there have also been issues at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 658.
"There are no rumble strips or flashing lights," he said. "There is just a checkboard sign, and the result is that several large logging trucks heading down Highway 658 have gone through the stop sign at the T-intersection and ended up in the ditch on the other side of Highway 33 and into the woods. There is even no speed control, and there is a tremendous amount of heavy traffic that goes through there."
Botros said he would investigate the issue, admitting he had not been aware of the problem.
Infrastructure services manager Richard Twach suggested that council may want to ask the County of Barrhead council to write a similar letter to the transportation minister, noting the Athabasca Bridge was actually in their county.
Kuelken agreed, saying everyone in the region should want to have the bridge replaced as soon as possible.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
