OLDS – The provincial government received some recent praise from the Town of Olds' chief administrative officer.
Brent Williams said the province’s budget includes plans to pave 19 kilometres of Highway 2A from south of Bowden to the roundabout at the south end of Olds.
“That’s much in need,” he told council during a recent meeting.
Williams also said after discussing the matter with town officials, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors will be undertaking some work to make sidewalks at the intersections of Highway 2A and Highway 27 easier for people with mobility issues to navigate.
Williams described that decision as “generous,” adding that Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors doesn’t normally do that work.
Williams said another piece of good news is that about $2.1 million has been set aside to fund design and preliminary engineering for a revamped interchange at the intersection of highways 2 and 27.
“This has been 20 years in the making,” Williams said.
“It’s been on council’s advocacy radar, certainly since I’ve been here. But also I think kudos are owed to current and past councils who kept this going and Mountain View County as well.”
Williams said a revamped interchange there is badly needed.
“Based on (Olds Fire Department’s) response rate to that overpass, it’s well overdue for safety concerns,” he said.
Williams added the update is also needed as Mountain View County’s Netook Crossing area and Olds grow in the future.
“That’s great news; a long time coming,” he said.
Finally, Williams said an Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors study on the efficiency of traffic lights along Highway 27 through Olds is now expected to be done this spring, possibly this month.
Williams initially announced the project last fall.
It was expected to be done by the end of February or some time in March.
“I promise you it still is coming and we’re working on with those (Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors) consultants to get that done,” he said.
