Minister Devin Dreeshen at the construction site of a roundabout coming to the Town of Penhold. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

will reduce collisions

Construction underway for new traffic circle in Penhold

Jun 22, 2024 | 10:34 AM

Representatives from the Town of Penhold and the Government of Alberta held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 21 to celebrate the construction of a traffic circle coming to the intersection of Highway 42 and Highway 2A.

“We’re pleased to announce a $6.5 million investment to convert this existing two-way stop to a modern and efficient two-lane roundabout,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors. “The input we got from the community and local residents was so important in designing this.”

Work will occur this year in four main stages:

• Stage One (June-July): Construction work is occurring adjacent to the existing intersection, without altering existing configuration.
• Stage Two (July-August): Traffic will shift to a detour route, allowing for construction of the roundabout centre island and inside lane.
• Stage Three (August-September): Traffic will be moved to the newly built inside lanes while outer lanes and islands are completed.
• Stage Four (September-October): Final roundabout should be open to traffic, and final site cleanup and prep underway.

“Our fire department responds to more than just fires, and the majority of our motor vehicle accidents that we respond to are right here at this intersection,” Penhold Mayor Michael Yargeau said.

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The initial plan designs were for a two-to-one flow that would see two lanes reduce down to one at certain points in the roundabout. Feedback from residents and nearby farmers resulted in an updated two-lane design that required the province to purchase additional land for the project, increasing the project cost to $6.5 million.

“That was the big reason why; we wanted to make sure it can accomodate the local traffic in this area as well as the industrial agricultural traffic in this intersection,” added Dreesen. “That’s why we had to go out and buy additional land, to make sure that we could have that space for the two lanes in this intersection.”

The contract for the project was secured by Central City Asphalt Ltd. Construction earlier this month, but the groundbreaking ceremony was held June 21 to accomodate representatives’ schedules.

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