Tenders for three Highway 63 projects will go out ahead of schedule to prepare for future road construction.
“Our government promised quick action on Highway 63 and we’re delivering on this promise,” said Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation. “These new projects demonstrate our commitment to safe highways and will increase passing lane opportunities on Highway 63.”
Two new passing/climbing lanes and extensions to six existing lanes will be added between House River and the junction with Highway 881. The new or extended lanes provide more passing opportunities and will reduce incidents of risky passing and the potential for head-on collisions. Work will commence later this summer and is expected to be completed by summer 2013, weather permitting.
Grading for the next section of twinning will take place from north of Wandering River to south of Wandering River. Work includes 27 kilometres of grading for a twinned highway as well as site preparation and earthworks at the three Wandering River crossings. Moving ahead now will allow the related future bridge work to be tendered sooner. The project will have a scheduled completion date of fall 2013, weather permitting.
The third project involves 55 kilometres of tree clearing from south of House River to north of Mariana Lake. Completing this project sooner allows future grading and paving contracts to be tendered sooner. The tree clearing will be completed by the spring of 2013, weather permitting.
The infamous Highway 63, otherwise known as the “Highway
of Death”, currently serves as the only roadway option workers have when
travelling from Edmonton into Fort McMurray.
Recent deaths on the Highway sparked massive reaction from the Fort McMurray community and those who travel the road; starting "Twin 63" petitions that earned tens of thousands of signatures, rallies, and other campaigns.
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen was appointed by Premier Alison Redford as the Highway 63 adviser
to Alberta’s Minister of Transportation, Ric McIver. Allen released a report entitled “Towards a Safer 63”
on June 29.
Currently, the highway is a two-lane, undivided
240-kilometre route that sees 4,200 vehicles every day. The report
recommended ways to improve safety through expanding it into a four-lane
highway and installing a physical barrier between the northbound and
southbound lanes, which McIver said would mitigate risky driving.
Highway 63 has claimed 123 lives since 2000.
Cost estimates on the Highway 63 projects will not be released before the contracts are awarded.
Visit the Alberta Transportation website for more information on Highway 63. The tender documents are available via the Alberta Purchasing Connection web site.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.