The Town of Drumheller, in conjunction with Wheatland County, held information sessions for residents in the communities of Dalum and Wayne affected by the replacement of Bridge 11 on Highway 10X on Thursday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 28.
It was reported in the June 22 edition of the Mail the information sessions would provide information to impacted residents regarding the upcoming construction and pending detours as no detour bridge will be installed due to “prohibitive costs” and “limited traffic.”
“There were concerns about evacuation routes regarding possible high-water events, traffic rerouting to alternate routes,” Town of Drumheller Director of Infrastructure Services Dave Brett told the Mail.
Other concerns brought up by residents included when the other bridges along Highway 10X are expected to be replaced, though this information was not available.
Six residents attended the information session in Wayne on June 23, along with Town staff and Councillor Tom Zariski. A total of 14 residents also attended the information session in Dalum on June 28; Drumheller Councillor Patrick Kolafa, Wheatland County Division 7 Councillor Rick Laursen, and Wheatland County Transportation and Agriculture general manager Brad Bullock were also in attendance.
Bridge 11 is the final bridge of the 11 Bridges to Wayne on Highway 10X and has been under a three tonne weight restriction since 2018 due to deteriorating conditions.
Along with replacing the bridge, the bridge will also need to be built 1.5 metres higher to accommodate a higher design flow rate for the Rosebud River, which was set by the province. Mr. Brett says it is expected the bridge will be closed for approximately one year to complete construction.
“Alberta Transportation guidelines have changed a lot since Bridge 11 was initially constructed,” Mr. Brett says. “This bridge, similar to Bridge 4, will be a one-lane crossing and will handle heavier weight and additional traffic capacity.”
Mr. Brett explains the new bridge will be able to accommodate an 80 tonne load, equivalent to a normal gravel truck.
The bridge replacement has a budget of $3.2 million, with the Alberta government funding about 75 per cent of the project through the Strategic Transport Infrastructure Program - Local Road Bridge (STIP-LRB) program; the remaining 25 per cent portion will be funded by a 21 per cent contribution from the Town of Drumheller, and a four per cent contribution from Wheatland County.

Wheatland County council held a public hearing regarding the proposed rezoning of some 146 acres from Agriculture General District to Direct Control District for the future development of a western events centre for the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society ahead of the regular Tuesday, June 21 council meeting.
The development site is within the boundaries of Wheatland County, about a half mile east of the Town of Strathmore, and will have multiple uses across three development cells; this will include a riding arena, day and overnight parking areas, along with livestock stalls and rough stock enclosures.
“Land redesignation is a critical step to laying the foundation for a facility which will become the heart of western heritage-real western heritage-in Canada,” Strathmore and District Ag Society general manager Ryan Schmidt shared during the public hearing.
Planning and Development planner Taylor Feltz noted the parcel is broken down into three development cells which will be used for different purposes.
Cell 1 will be used for more intense purposes, including the main Western Events Centre building. This will contain a riding arena, livestock stalls and roughstock enclosures, commercial kitchen and concession

areas, office and event space, and parking. Cell 2 will primarily be used for overflow and short term overnight parking for event participants, and Cell 3 is intended for a year-round rodeo school, livestock grazing, and other agricultural operations.
A total of five submissions-three in opposition and two neither in favour nor opposed-were received prior to first

reading of the bylaw; no further comments were received from adjacent landowners prior to the public hearing, however, the Town of Strathmore wrote a letter “generally supporting the proposal.”
Three landowners took to the podium during the public hearing. One landowner, who had previously submitted a letter of neutrality regarding the development, wished to have his concerns registered on record; among those concerns were plans for stormwater management on the property as it is prone to water retention, and both physical and bio security for adjacent properties.
Other concerns brought forward were the impacts increased traffic to the site would have on Range Road 250 and Township Road 244, and whether current infrastructure such as water and sewer would be able to handle the proposed development.
Council unanimously passed second and third reading with an amendment to move solar panel structure ground mounts and towers from permitted to discretionary use.