Leader staff

The Town of Slave Lake Administration received some details last week on the planned highway maintenance for the region this construction season. As follows:

The provincial government has retained a contractor to overlay 14 kms of Highway 2 this year, both east and west of town. The project includes crack repairs, cold milling, asphalt paving, grading, street light installation and other works.

Planned are approximately four kilometres of paving east of Main Street, and approximately 10 kilometres west of Main St. The project is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of construction season.

The traffic signal located at the junction of Hwy. 2 and Main St. has had some problems lately. It will get some attention as well. The contractor has assured the town “that they are further working to resolve this issue.”

Also slated for work are eight intersections in the area.

As for any expected work on Highway 88, the town says “Alberta Transportation is expected to schedule some maintenance work this year. The maintenance work is anticipated to address potholes on Highway 88.”

M.D. 124 council discussed the same topic at its March 24 meeting. Councillor Brad Pearson called it “encouraging news,” but wants more details. He made a motion to send a letter seeking these from Alberta Transportation.

In particular, Pearson is interested in what eight intersections are identified for upgrades. He said he’s hoping Bayer Road is one of them.

Councillor Robert Esau said he’s not pleased to hear the 10 kilometres due for overlay west of Slave Lake won’t reach as far as what was re-paved last year.

“I think it’s really dumb to leave a strip,” he said.