Phase two of the Highway 40 twinning is anticipated to be completed a year ahead of schedule, with the first phase likely to wrap up this winter.
County of Grande Prairie councillors received an update from Peace Region, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Regional Director Chase Milligen on not only the Highway 40 work but several transportation projects in the region, including the status of Highway 40X.
Milligen says even with some of the challenges crews have faced on the Wapiti Bridge construction, the first phase of work on the Highway 40 twinning is mostly on track for completion by early winter at the latest.
“With the next phase of the twinning, a lot of the earthworks are mostly complete; a lot of work happened this winter and has continued into this summer,” Milligen says. “Right now, we are targeting completion of that second phase next year. We originally had a completion date in the contract of 2025, but we are looking like we are going to be a year ahead of schedule on that project.”
He adds that there are still many things to do and problems that could arise, but at this point things are looking promising. Planning for the next phase of the twinning, from Township Road 700 going towards Canfor, has also been completed, and Milligen says he hopes to ask for funding for engineering costs in the upcoming physical budget.
Work on the Highway 40X project is also moving forward, with the engineering request for proposal still open until August 9. Melligen says that in the next month, transportation should be in talks with an engineer, and they should have started the design process.
Melligen adds applications were sent to the federal government for National Trade Corridor Funding for both projects. At this point, they have yet to hear back, with the assumption being they were unsuccessful.
