WESTLOCK — The Town of Westlock is expecting construction to start on the 108 St. rebuild, a 2021-22 project “more than likely,” after the province approved a grant of up to $3 million.
The provincial money should cover 50 per cent of the $5.6 estimated value, and it’s coming out of the Strategic Transportation Investment Program.
"We are just really happy that the 108 St. project is going to be able to go ahead because a municipality our size, a $6 million project is difficult to fund without partners. We're happy the province has stepped up," said CAO Simone Wiley.
This is the second time the town has applied for provincial infrastructure money with this project.
As for the remaining portion of money—at least $2.6 million as per the estimate—Wiley says the municipality has been saving the federal gas tax funds “for a number of years” in anticipation.
"We have, at least for the last three years, been positioning ourselves, saving our federal gas tax funds for this. I know it hit the priority list at least two years before that, and it's always intended to be a two-year project just because of the length of the road and the magnitude of the project,” she said.
“We're pretty confident in our ability to fund this project with the 50 per cent that we've been given."
The construction timeline, however, has certain restrictions. The project is currently with the engineering firm and has yet to go out to tender—a process which lasts three weeks to a month.
"We're in mid-July right now so we may go out for tender knowing that this project is not physically able, just due to the time of the year, able to start until springtime (2021)," said Wiley.
Since it includes underground infrastructure, it’ll likely transpire into a two-year construction period, not just due to the timing of the grant, but also influenced by the people who need access to that road.
“You've got residential people that have back driveways that we need to accommodate, and of course the (Westlock) Terminals being along there, we're going to have to be very strategic when construction starts on business continuity for them."
When the provincial government announced additional investments in shovel-ready projects earlier this year, the town launched a paving pitch April 24 for the 108 St. rebuild. It included a two-minute video, starring mayor Ralph Leriger, Terminals CEO Clifford Bell and Westlock & District Chamber of Commerce president Graeme Harrington.
In their pitch, Leriger called for a “partner, not a funder” for Westlock’s agriculture sector—which relies on proper access on that road—or, as he put it: “Alberta’s breadbasket.”
Bell said the terminals handle 200,000 metric tons of product annually for Albertan producers, which then make it to the hands of consumers globally.
The pitch also included a commitment to use local workforce and contractors.
