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(Bryn James)
100,000 visits

Red Deer County touts popularity of Junction 42

Oct 28, 2020 | 11:05 AM

Red Deer County officials say commercial and recreational travellers are flocking to its commercial area at intersection of Hwy 2 and 42.

The county says it has now recorded 100,000 visits to the Junction 42 Partnership Rest Area since it opened in 2018.

Red Deer County is able to track the volume of vehicles entering and exiting Junction 42 thanks to sensors built into the parking lot. The county recorded its 100,000th vehicle movement on Tuesday.

Junction 42 offers commercial and recreational travellers the opportunity to pull off the highway, fuel up, and eat at one of the restaurants. The area also features high speed internet, and is well lit for safety, county officials note.

The area encompasses approximately 118 hectares (291 acres) of land located 9.5 kilometers south of Red Deer, directly adjacent to the boundary of the Town of Penhold.

“We are thrilled to see so many people stopping in this area. We heard a lot of feedback from the commercial vehicle sector,” said Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood. “They have a need for a commercial area along the QE2 highway, and Red Deer County partnered with the Alberta Transportation to respond to this need. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this development.”