Shortly after the Government of Alberta finalized its proposed 2024-25 budget, numerous Grande Prairie officials expressed concerns regarding the lack of funding for the construction of the Highway 40X connector project.
County Reeve Bob Marshall says residents were “hoping to see the construction” of the project included in the budget, alongside the funds to continue with the road’s planning and engineering.
Despite the concerns, Grande Prairie MLA Nolan Dyck says he will continue to advocate for the connector, as it serves as an important factor for both traffic and commerce in the Grande Prairie region.
“Around Grande Prairie some of the heavy traffic is going through the city, that’s just the reality,” he says. “If we can bring that around, for one it frees up city traffic and reduces those numbers, but it also allows for free-flowing of more trucks around Grande Prairie so we can haul more.”
Dyck adds that he remains “hopeful” that more large-scale projects come to the north, and a means of controlling the anticipated heavy traffic is a key factor in making that happen.
