(L-R) MLA for Red Deer-South Jason Stephan, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors and MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake Devin Dreeshen, Town of Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson, and Clearwater County Councillors Daryl Lougheed, Sydney Graham and Michelle Swanson announced completion of phase one of the twinning Highway 11 project on Wednesday. (Supplied)

By Sheldon Spackman and Alessia Proietti

South of Sylvan Lake

First phase of twinning Highway 11 project complete

Jan 25, 2023 | 3:42 PM

The provincial government announced on Wednesday the completion of the first phase of their Highway 11 twinning project, including two roundabouts, south of the Town of Sylvan Lake.

Members of the Alberta and municipal governments gathered at the new roundabout on Hwy 11 and Range Road 15 to update the public on the project.

The completed work is the first of four projects to twin the full length of Highway 11 between the towns of Sylvan Lake and Rocky Mountain House. Officials say the intent of the project is to address increasing traffic and bolster an important economic corridor in central Alberta, supporting key industry supply chains and the movement of goods and services through the region.

Beginning in May 2022, the first phase consisted of:

• Twinning a four-kilometre section between two kilometres west of Highway 781 and one kilometre west of Highway 20
• Adding roundabouts at the following Highway 11 intersections:
  • Highway 781 (50 St in Sylvan Lake)
  • Range Road 15 (60 St in Sylvan Lake)
    New roundabout on Highway 11 and Range Road 15 (60th Street in Sylvan Lake). (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

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Government officials say that ensuring safe highways for families and commercial drivers is critical as Alberta communities and the economy grows. They also believe twinning Highway 11 between the two towns will make travel in this region more efficient.

“Not having direct access from Highway 11 into Sylvan Lake was a top issue for local residents. Having no access hurt businesses and commuters in and out of town. Twice a day, folks would have to needlessly drive around a loop to get downtown or to school. This project opens up Sylvan Lake, improves emergency vehicle response times and will make these intersections safe,” said Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors and MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

Opening intersections into Sylvan Lake from Highway 11 has been a long-standing desire for local residents, said government officials in a release. They say safety concerns plagued the area and businesses suffered from a lack of direct access into the community.

“Our residents and businesses, specifically in our downtown core, have been asking for improvements to the 50^th intersection for many years, since before it ever closed, and it’s been a huge improvement in town,” said Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hansen.

“I think the increase in traffic on the highway in general will probably increase the visibility of Sylvan Lake; the more people that go by, the more people might want to stop in. It’s great that this increased traffic will bring them right by Gull Stadium and Pogadl Park.”

According to the provincial government, Hwy 11, also known as the David Thompson Highway, leads to some of the most breathtaking scenery in Canada and is a popular tourist route.

“I think this is exciting. In Red Deer, central Alberta, we love the west country. This is like a gem and it’s great to be able to improve the economic competitiveness of central Alberta with great transportation,” said MLA for Red Deer-South, Jason Stephan.

Dreeshen said the remaining work will be completed in phases ongoing throughout the year, with the second phase to continue twinning Hwy 11 to the hamlet of Benalto and the third phase to twin Hwy 22 to Township Road 390. He says a functional planning study should be completed within the year before the fourth and final phase to twin Hwy 22 to Rocky Mountain House.

Officials noted construction on the first section cost $15 million out of a $120 million budget for the entire project. Dreeshen said although inflation impacted construction costs, they were still able to complete the first phase on time and on budget, crediting the engineers, construction workers and the Department of Transportation.