Happy New Year, Cochrane.
Believing that our transportation issues with Highway 1A and 22 are on the top of the priority list for 2016, I thought it would be appropriate to share the email trail I had with the minister’s office just before Christmas. I could have just written about the emails in my own words but thought everyone would appreciate reading the assistant deputy minister’s letter themselves. This is a big commitment by the province as this work detailed below comes with a big cost. The detailed design work that is being spoken about below is usually around five per cent of the total project cost. So depending on the option chosen, that is a cost of between $1-$4 million. I personally don’t believe that they would undertake this work without the intention to move this project along.
All the best in 2016.
(Mayor Brooker’s letter to Alberta Transportation Assistant Deputy Minister Manon Plante)
As a follow up to your email of November 27th, I thought it important to connect back with you regarding the importance of this issue to my community. I appreciate that you have been monitoring the progress being made in terms of arriving at a decision on design for the Highway 1A/22 intersection. Given how vital this is, and the commitment made by the Minister to have a solution presented by the end of the year, I wanted to ensure we were tracking in the direction where we could know your Department’s position as soon as possible.
While I understand the heavy load being placed on all of us these days, and especially where we are competing for scarce resources, we must find a way to have this intersection prioritized. There are so many impacts we are now facing. Further delays will simply exacerbate an already pressing problem.
I would hope that in my message to the community there will be some answers forthcoming that are accurate and in keeping with what I was told at our meeting in November. Once again, I thank you in advance for extending all your support.
All the best for a happy holiday season . . . I know what I want for Christmas.
(Assistant Deputy Minister Plante’s reply to Mayor Brooker’s
correspondence)
Good Afternoon, Mayor Brooker
Thank you for your email. I just want to re-affirm the department’s commitment to work with the Town of Cochrane and our understanding of the pressures on the 1A/22 intersection. As such, I would like highlight some key timelines/milestones as to the progress of this specific file:
g Mid-January 2016 – A package containing information and cost estimates for the 2 options (Town’s and ATs) will be presented to the Technical Review Committee (Alberta Transportation and Town Representatives).
g End of February 2016 – Alberta Transportation (AT) will review all the information and determine/select option.
g End of April 2016 – AT should proceed with Consultant procurement for the detailed design.
g Summer/Winter 2016 – Design should proceed and could take up to a year or so depending on ROW/Utilities/coordination.
As you are aware, this project is not on the three-year capital plan at this time (2015-2018). The next round of capital planning process has begun and the results will be available once the budget 2016-2019 is endorsed by the Government (usually in mid to late March). Again, should you have additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
Manon
Manon Plante, P. Eng
ADM Delivery Services
Alberta Transportation
