Division 7 Councillor Ben Armstrong brought a request to Wheatland County council during the regular Tuesday, August 24 council meeting to send correspondence to Alberta Transportation over concerns regarding repairs to Highway 561 west of the Village of Hussar.
The province previously agreed to build shoulders on the highway for traffic safety, however, in some 10 years this has not occurred and the road has since been made narrower through other roadwork.
“Business is picking up out there, now that we’re talking about windmills going out there and other talk about some other development if it goes through,” Councillor Armstrong said during the meeting. “We just need to let the government know we’re disappointed in how they’re treating (Highway 561).”
The western stretch of the highway runs south of the Village of Hussar and is the main thoroughfare from Highway 1 east of Strathmore to Highway 56 east of the village, with many large trucks and farming equipment traversing this stretch of highway.
Councillor Armstrong noted milling and repairs to lift the road near the Wheatland Crossing School have been completed previously, but developing a proper shoulder along the road has yet to be completed.
Earlier in the day, council had deliberated on reducing speed limits along other roads throughout the county, and Councillor Armstrong noted the highway would be “a good candidate” for a lower speed limit, calling it “a danger to drive” with increased heavy traffic.
Councillor Armstrong moved for administration to draft a letter to Alberta Transportation to outline the county’s concerns regarding the narrow, shoulderless highway and inform them of ratepayer dissatisfaction.
The motion was carried unanimously.
