By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
During the Flagstaff County Council meeting held Feb. 11, Council heard a presentation from Alberta Transportation about a highway widening project being designed for Highway 13 between Daysland and Bawlf.
On behalf of Alberta Transportation were Stuart Richardson, Acting Regional Director, Russel Pinchak, Regional Manager, Highways and Roads – Southern, Central and Peace Region with WSP, Neil Powell, WSP Senior Project Manager, and Jodeen Swan, Alberta Transportation Construction and Engineering Technologist.
They were dialed in to the meeting via Zoom, and gave a pre-prepared presentation.
Richardson spoke first saying his department had finally managed to get a budget for the design work on the project, so the next stage was getting the project design and funding ready, putting together a business case for the project to be funded by the Provincial budget.
In this case, Pinchak from WSP said that the project had gone straight to design with no open houses or consultation process. “During the design process we will normally reach out to stakeholders and municipalities. There are a few items in the design that need feedback.”
During the presentation, Highway 13 was described as a Level 2 highway, and the widening project was a part of improving connectivity in the region, and preparing for future traffic demands. Specifically, the project being described is 13.5km of highway between Highways 855 and 854. The design calls for the Road to be widened to 13.6 metres (at present it is 8.5m wide).
A wider roadway will allow for safer movements of traffic, presenters said, and at-grade intersections will be upgraded to meet or exceed current Transportation standards. The design also includes limiting direct access from adjacent properties, like private driveways, agricultural field access, and oil leases to be reduced wherever possible, Council heard.
Richardson cites traffic volumes, from a 2024 estimate, at 2,200 vehicles per day.
The presentation says that the existing roadway, besides being narrow, is in poor condition in the pavement.
Because of the proximity to the CPCK Rail line, all growth would occur to the south, according to the presentation, although it can occur on both sides through Daysland.
The culverts along the existing road surface along the 13.5km were also said to be in poor conditions.
Along the path of Highway 13 west of Daysland, it was noted that there are two intersections, “with considerable skew angles,” being described as Township Road 452 and Highway 13, on the south and north sides.
As well, a new service road has been proposed to remove direct and private access to Highway 13 along the south side of the highway as it travels past Daysland. The report claims that there are, in total, 22 driveways and approaches, and the design removes all redundant and unsafe direct access points.
Negotiations are presently underway with landowners, as it has been determined that a 10m right of way will need to be purchased from adjacent properties to the south.
As well, there are numerous wetlands binding the project on both sides of the highway that will require mitigation strategies to reduce impacts on the environment. It was noted, too, that Fortis would be required to move the power poles currently along the south side of Highway 13 in that area.
Council heard that key stakeholders, as in adjacent landowners, utility providers, and municipalities were being consulted now.
The estimated total cost of the widening project is estimated to be $22.5 million. It is hoped that agreements for the acquisition of the necessary right of ways can be completed in the second quarter of 2026, and that a complete detailed design and tender package can go out by the end of third quarter, with tendering at the end of the fourth quarter, with tentative construction planned for the second and third quarters of 2027.
Council was warned that this was a tentative schedule only, subject to change from a number of factors, and of course, said Richardson, dependent on Budget information from the Province.
After the formal presentation, councillors had an opportunity to ask questions of the panel.
Councillor Leslie Heck (Div 5) asked about the planned service road at Daysland, wondering who would be responsible for maintaining the road once it was built. The answer was the county or the Town of Daysland, depending on where it is situated.
Heck then said, “The service road agreement in 2015 said, this road “need not be constructed at this time.” Why is it needed now?
The response was, “Our scope today is to reduce the number of access points from private property. We aim to tidy up, and reduce all access points on provincial highways, to improve safety, for one reason.”
Heck countered, “Would installing the service road impact the commercial businesses located there? And scale use at one of those businesses?
The response was, “We are working with that landowner now, and looking at the actual impacts.”
Heck also asked about the proposed access closure at Township Road 452: “Wouldn’t that increase the amount of slow-moving traffic, once Township Road 452 access is removed?”
The response was that Range Road 165 and 164 would be improved to account for turning, slow-moving vehicles (including those going to Paterson Grain.)
Councillor Lori Lindseth (Div. 4) asked, “How long are the acceleration and de-acceleration lanes?
Richardson said these are usually 86m to 140m.
Councillor Alexis Ponto (Div. 2) asked, “Can we look at longer distances for those?”
READ THE REST IN THE MARCH 4 EDITION OF THE COMMUNITY PRESS – Read it on our Patreon right now
or Subscribe on Local Ink for just $5 for the year for a limited time!
