Junction 42 (file photo)

By Sheldon Spackman

safety issues

County council shares frustration with province while approving Junction 42 intersection upgrades

Jun 9, 2021 | 2:16 PM

Following a month of record traffic at the Junction 42 Partnership Rest Area east of Penhold in May, Red Deer County is proceeding with Phase 1 of improvements planned for the intersection of Highway 42 and Range Road 273A, and at Highway 42 and Junction Drive.

The project is the result of a recent cost share agreement between Alberta Transportation, a developer (Cervus), and Red Deer County.

Further to the agreement, the county has been in talks with the Transportation Minister regarding improvements needed to accommodate safe access and egress from Junction 42 caused by the “overwhelming volume” of provincial truck traffic.

The rest area saw a record 16,000 truck visits last month and during the week sees an average of one truck visit every two minutes.

The county has proposed to cost share for the construction of a roundabout and has lobbied the province for the immediate lowering of the speed limit in the area to 70 kilometres per hour.

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However, County officials say those efforts appear to be caught up in provincial government “red tape.”

As a result, on May 14, the Highway 42 and Range Road 273A tender was amended to increase the scope of the project to include the installation of a right turn channelization at the intersection of Highway 42 and Junction Drive, as well as at Highway 42 and Range Road 273A.

The Junction Drive work also includes the construction of an access road through Junction 42 from the Highway 42 Service Road to Long Haul Way, adjacent to the Petro Card-Lock. County officials say the solution to proceed with the improvements at Junction Drive buys safety but not time, noting that the Junction Drive intersection will need to be improved to a roundabout soon.

On Tuesday, council unanimously awarded the contract for the project to Pidherney’s for $957,015.78 for the 2021 work only, excluding GST,and for the budget to be amended accordingly to reflect financial contributions received from Alberta Transportation ($700,000) and the Developer ($333,000).

Construction is slated to begin July 19 and be completed by September 17.

A cost break down shows Red Deer County taking on 50 per cent of the Highway 42/Range Road 273A intersection, with Alberta Transportation taking on 31 per cent and Cervus 19 per cent. The Highway 42/Junction Drive intersection will see The county handle 69 per cent of the project cost and Alberta Transportation 31 per cent.

Councillor Connie Huelsman expressed her disappointment with the province’s contribution.

“I thank the Alberta government for the money we did have, but when we look at 69 per cent for Red Deer County and only 31 per cent for Alberta Transportation, I would have liked to have seen that percentage a little bit higher,” she suggested.

County Manager Curtis Herzberg further lamented that they have yet to receive confirmation from the province on their request for a speed limit reduction in the area.

“We feel that it’s super important that that be dealt with immediately. I too am offended by the level of contribution from the provincial government, and I think we need to keep the foot on their throat and go for the roundabout, and go for the rest area expansion. We know it’s needed, we’re full every night now.”

“Junction Drive and Highway 42, it needs something done to it right away. I’m disappointed that Alberta Transportation is only doing that much of the upgrade to it, for the simple fact that this was done to help them out when they closed down the road access on Gasoline Alley,” added Councillor Dana Depalme, who also called the wait over a speed limit change “appaling.”

Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood said it’s imperative the county continue to lobby the province for the intersections to be done right.

“I’m just going to challenge our local MLA (Devin Dreeshen) and Minister (Ric) McIver to in fact, understand that central Alberta is important,” he suggested. “We’re not asking for a lot.”