Roads & Highways
Northeast Provincial Highway Projects
The Government of Alberta recognizes that efficient and upgraded access to the north is vital to the future prosperity of Alberta.
Government has committed to upgrade highways in the Fort McMurray area. These upgrades include:
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twinning Hwy 63 from Fort McMurray south to Highway 55 at Atmore
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twinning Hwy 63 from Fort McMurray north
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paving the rest of Hwy 881 was completed this summer
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constructing a new bridge over the Athabasca River
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building seven staging areas along Hwys 63 and 881
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road rehabilitation work, construction of a bypass lane on Highway 63 within Fort McMurray, and three major intersection improvement projects to relieve roadway congestion and improve safety - completed in fall 2006
As part of our long-term infrastructure plans, we are also looking at twinning the entire stretch of highway from Nisku to Fort McMurray. Although dollars have not yet been committed, engineering and planning work required to twin the road is already underway and will continue through the winter. This work is required to determine the cost of the project.
Open House - Highway 63 - Twinning
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has identified the need to plan for
the twinning of Highway 63 from Highway 55 to Fort McMurray. A team of
consultants has been formed to address the twinning requirements for the highway
corridor.
CastleGlenn Consultants Inc. was retained to undertake a functional planning study along Highway 63 from the south leg of Highway 55(south) to north of Wandering River. A similar study is being undertaken by UMA Engineering Ltd. that addresses Highway 63 from north of Wandering River to Mariana Lake. These studies address twinning requirements, traffic operational issues, access management issues and confirm the long-range function and configuration of the corridor.
In addition, an Environmental Assessment is being carried out by AMEC Earth and Environmental for the section of Highway 63 from Atmore to Mariana Lake. This assessment is being done to identify and address unique environmental constraints, including land features and/or uses along the Highway 63 corridor.
Open houses were held on November 21, 2006 in Grassland and November 22, 2006 in Fort McMurray to obtain feedback on the consultant’s preferred alignment option and public input to ensure that any environmental concerns are identified. The information presented at the open houses will be made available on the website in the coming weeks.
For more information on the open house or the project please contact:
- Functional Planning Study - Mr. Arthur Gordon, CastleGlenn Consultants Inc., by phone (403) 252-9303 or email at agordon@castleglenn.ca.
- Environmental Assessment - Mr. Paul Kalashnikoff, AMEC Earth and Environmental, by phone (780) 436-2152 or email at paul.kalashnikoff@amec.com.
Open House - Highway 63 - Fort McMurray
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has retained
McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. to undertake a Functional Planning Study for
the future improvement of Highway 63 from King Street to Confederation Way. The
study is recommending long-term improvements for the highway through the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, including future interchange plans,
operational requirements and potential interim stages of improvement.
The following information and preliminary plans were presented at a second Open House in Fort McMurray on December 8, 2005:
Presentation Displays (8.3 MB)
Project Information Sheet (63 KB)
Proposed Interchange Improvements (13 MB)
Proposed Freeway Plan (13.5 MB)
Feedback from Open House #2 will be taken into consideration as a detailed functional plan is developed. The functional plan will be presented to Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation for review and approval in spring 2006.
For more information on the open house or the project please contact Henry Devos, McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. at (888) 451-2311 (toll-free) or email at hdevos@mcelhanney.net
News Releases
Highway maintenance keeps traffic moving smoothly (June 8, 2006)
Fort McMurray intersection work will reduce traffic congestion by fall (May 05, 2006)
Government commits to twinning Highway 63 (February 23, 2006)
New road will link Northern Saskatchewan to Athabasca Oil Sands (September 15, 2005)
Government accelerates housing and road development in Fort McMurray (July 6, 2005)
Alberta invests $530 million for highways to the oil sands (May 3, 2005)