Rendering of the new roundabout planned for Highway 2A and Airport Drive near Springbrook. (Red Deer County)

By Sheldon Spackman

Long Overdue, councillors say

County council approves roundabout for Highway 2A at Airport Drive

Dec 16, 2020 | 10:59 AM

Red Deer County council has given the go-ahead for construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 2A and Airport Drive near Springbrook.

County officials say the current intersection sees around 20,000 vehicles per day. So the Province has proposed an upgrade of the intersection to a roundabout which will be designed and constructed by Red Deer County.

On Tuesday, council awarded the contract for the project to Northside Construction Ltd. for the sum of $5.8 million.

Red Deer County has agreed to pay $857,000 towards the project. This fee is comprised of $750,000, which is 50 per cent of the original signalized intersection estimate, and $107,000 for additional costs related for utility work being completed at the same time.

The province has agreed to pay the remaining costs. The total budget for the roundabout totals nearly $6.8 million.

Nov. 28

Workshop coming to Red Deer for cow-calf producers on data literacy

22h ago

gun fired

Ponoka RCMP arrest two people in rural area, warn residents of taking matters into their own hands

23h ago

Firearm possession

Red Deer RCMP arrest Stettler man for possession of multiple weapons

Nov 22, 2024

Councillor Dana Depalme says she’s happy to see the project happening.

“It’s going to help Springbrook a lot because that road is fairly scary at that intersection,” she said.

Councillor Christine Moore echoed those sentiments, adding she too has experienced unsettling traffic encounters at that location.

“I remember a couple of Christmas’s ago, I was trying to make a left turn from that road heading back into Red Deer and it was a foggy, foggy night and I literally said my prayers,” she recalled. “So I’m so happy to see this. I think it’s really going to benefit the community of Springbrook. It’s amazing how many cars are going past there.”

County officials say the roundabout will be two lanes going north-south and one lane going east-west.

Councillor Connie Huelsman acknowledged that traffic safety concerns at the intersection has been paramount for years.

“It just makes me very pleased that our residents and people travelling down that road will be safe. I also want to comment and thank the way the project was awarded. We have come well within a cost that we can manage and that most of it is picked up by the Province, so good job to everyone involved.”

Northside Construction has proposed a schedule which would see them starting in May and completing the project by mid-September of 2021.

Mayor Jim Wood hopes to see the project completed early to avoid disrupting traffic flows any longer than necessary.

“We know how tight the traffic has been at this particular intersection for a long, long time, so this is long overdue,” he pointed out. “But it’s only overdue because of cost and the ability to get it done. This partnership is now going to make it happen for $857,000.”

Wood feels the project will also better position the county and Red Deer Regional Airport for future growth.

“If we’re going to see the airport to grow, this is extremely important to be able to have traffic getting in and out of it,” he explains. “This is huge. This airport and Springbrook’s growth is extremely important to Red Deer County.”