The Alberta Minister of Transportation Ric McIver was through the Valley Friday to address the Alberta Chamber of Commerce Conference and to get caught up on local issues.
“We are meeting with town council, the chamber of commerce delegates, and with a school, and our local staff so we have as good of an understanding on the ground as we can, so we can make good decisions in the future,” said Minister McIver.
Over the last few years, there have been great strides in road improvement for the Valley. The major Highway 9 South project has made safer passage for residents and visitors coming and going from Calgary. This year already Highway 10 from East Coulee to Drumheller, as well as improvements to intersections in town are underway.
Hon. Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation
McIver said he has heard appreciation for the work, but acknowledges it does come with some growing pains.
“The trouble in Drumheller is the fact that we are a winter province and tourism traffic comes through in the summer. That is also the time that we tear all the roads up. I don’t know a solution for that,” he said.
There have also been growing pains for the transition to a new highway contractor. Carillion spent its first winter season taking care of the area roads. Many in the community expressed frustration with the condition of the roads. Moving on to the summer season, residents hope the highways under Carillon’s care remain clean and safe.
“We have robust contracts and standards we put our contractors through, and above that, there are penalties in those contracts if those things don’t go well. I think we set pretty high standards and our contractors work pretty hard to meet them, but particularly when there is a change of contractor, there is an adjustment period, and that is one more reason we need to stay in touch with communities,” said McIver.
The Mail asked Minister McIver about the possibility of finally going forward on the twinning of Highway 575 through the HyGrade Industrial Park. This has been a priority for a number of Drumheller Councils however, it has not made it onto the provincial radar.
“The best way is to keep communicating with government and understand we are living within our means, our revenue is falling off, it is not in the area we hoped it would be, so some projects have fallen off the table. You can’t have six billion dollars less revenue and do all the things you are hoping to,” said McIver.
“Your government is here to listen. If you want to talk to them, all you need to do is call. I think that was true a few years ago and it still is today.”
