On June 20 Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie had an opportunity to ask Minister of Transportation Rick McIvor some questions regarding the interchange project at highways 1A/22.
Guthrie posted the video clip of the exchange on social media, which has ignited concerns and questions about timing of the project.
I’ve been really trying to get that question in,” said Guthrie, who had been “puzzled” over the former NDP government stance that the project would have been funded through a 2019 budget, had they been elected.
“Any project that is still in the design phase cannot be a line item on the capital projects list (until the design phase is completed)” confirmed Guthrie, adding that while the intention may have been to fund it, given where the project is at in its design phase, it would not have been able to be funded this year as a capital project - not until next year at the earliest.
Guthrie also asked McIvor if the twinning (or widening) of Highway 1A through to the Stoney Nakoda Nation of Morley to the west was back on the table - learning from McIvor that the agreement between the previous PC government and the Nation had lapsed under the NDP but that the current government would explore that project again.
"The lapse of the agreement with the Stoney Nakoda Nation is significant if one wants to complete the project as a whole," said Guthrie. "The NDP design criteria treats the flow of traffic to the intersection based upon single lane, since the previous government made a decision to take twinning of the highway off the table for Cochrane. They also made that project more difficult by neglecting to renew the agreement with the Stoney Nakoda First Nation."
“This changes the dynamic ... I am advocating for the completion of the entire project and I can say that the people of the Stoney Nakoda are allies for not only the twinning of the Highway 1A, but also the interchange,” said Guthrie, who feels it’s imperative to advocate for the two projects to work in tandem and to ensure the interchange design (cloverleaf with roundabouts) would be built to work with the future twinning of widening of the highway.
Guthrie said he was “very pleased” to receive confirmation from McIvor that the government is “well aware” of the importance of the interchange project, as it relates to traffic congestion and safety for the region.
Mayor Jeff Genung is also pleased to see the efforts of Guthrie and the receptiveness of McIvor.
A presentation at Monday night council (June 24) on the North Calgary Regional Transportation Study marked the interchange project number 10 out of 20 top rated roads infrastructure projects for the region. Twinning Highway 1A from Highway 22 to Gleneagles Drive came in third and that of Highway 22 from Highway 1 to Highway 1A came in 20th. The study was commissioned in 2016 by the province.
While Genung said he was at first surprised to see the project priorities, he does not feel there is any need for alarm and is very hopeful that the interchange project is moving ahead – given the continuation of the work at the design stage.
"It's good news. If it hadn't made the top 20, then we might have something to be concerned about," he said, adding that his review revealed that the interchange project at hgihways 1A/22 appears to be the most "shovel ready."
Last week, the town received news from Alberta Transportation that the next step in the design phase would begin June 25 - with “archeological hand excavations at four locations NE of the Highway 1A/22 intersection” and estimated to take three weeks.
Genung said that practically speaking, it would seem odd that AT would continue in the design phase if the intent of the government was to put a complete halt to it.
McIvor also confirmed in the video that $2.2 M has been spent to date on the design phase.
Both Genung and Guthrie are hopeful this is all stacking up for a positive announcement that the project will make the capital projects list in the fall budget and that construction could begin next year.
