Area drivers can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel now that Alberta Transportation Minister Ric McIver has announced that the provincial government is shooting for a Fall 2016 completion date for the twinning of Highway 63.
McIver wisely chose to make the announcement at the opening of a 36-kilometre stretch of completed twinning north of Wandering River. Given that particular stretch was completed many months ahead of schedule, it may serve to ward off skepticism that the government can meet its self-imposed deadline.
By pumping $1.1 billion into the completion of the project, the Alberta government has certainly proven that it takes a serious view of the dangers Highway 63 currently poses to travellers. Certainly, too many people have already been injured and killed travelling the highway, and it’s a sad certainty that more will be before the twinning is completed.
If twinning of 63 is completed four years from now, it won’t be a moment too soon.
