During the August 26 Regular Council Meeting, a Request for Decision was presented to Council, outlining five submissions for the Request for Proposal for the Bridge 11 Replacement Project. All received submissions were technically compliant and evaluated based on experience, the project manager and team, and an overall understanding of the project's scope, schedule, and cost.
The design-build proposal allowed the contractors to propose how to construct the bridge, resulting in significant cost savings. With a design and construction budget of $1.4 million, Sure Seal Contracting's proposal was both economical and technically sound.
Mayor Colberg expressed gratitude for the Town’s Infrastructure Services’ efforts in developing a cost-effective solution.
"We pushed back when this proposal initially came to us in September of 2022. We could not have the taxpayers carry the load of that cost at the time. This is a huge success for our Infrastructure Services Department in developing a cost-effective solution,” she said.
The plan for the bridge includes a new single-lane bridge deck and changes to the approaches while maintaining the iconic charm of the 10X bridge and road system. It will not require a double-lane bridge, and the proposed plan includes extensions past the current abutments that will not impact the river, facilitating an expedited process. Design work is underway, and construction is set to begin in Spring 2025, taking approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.
The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program partially supports funding for this project. The Local Road Bridge (STIP-LRB) grant application was approved, with the province covering approximately 75% of the total project cost and the Town of Drumheller and Wheatland County contributing approximately 21% and 4%, respectively.

After multiple years of planning, engagement, and development, the 2024 Horseshoe Canyon Master Plan was approved by Kneehill County council during its regular Tuesday, September 10 council meeting.
Work on the document first began in 2017 and evolved to incorporate engagement with Kneehill County community members, including adjacent landowners and stakeholders, through the formation of a dedicated focus group, and partnerships with Travel Alberta and Travel Drumheller to further enhance visitor experience of the site.
In 2021, the County implemented a paid parking initiative at Horseshoe Canyon, inspired by a similar initiative at the Hoodoos in the Town of Drumheller. During the first year attendants were on-site at Horseshoe Canyon for a total of 76 days, and collected about $17,500 in revenue.
Due to the success of the pilot year of the program, council approved continuation in 2022 and 2023; they also approved a pilot branding program during the 2022 season to help further recognition of Kneehill County as the owners of Horseshoe Canyon, and create its own unique brand identity for the canyon.
A major focus of the master plan is continued stewardship and protection of Horseshoe Canyon, as well as continued involvement from the community, landowners, as well as collaborations with local and Indigenous tourism organizations.
Funds collected from the ongoing paid parking program have helped to further site improvement and cleanliness. As well, having on-site ambassadors has helped to bolster better visitor experiences. Site ambassadors have been able to provide visitors with further information about Horseshoe Canyon, as well as other regional tourist destinations, including the Hoodoos and Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Orkney Viewpoint and Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park in Kneehill County, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.
Council unanimously approved the Horseshoe Canyon Master Plan and directed administration to provide a report on the process and resources required to develop a land acknowledgement protocol.