Work in twinning Highway 43 between Grande Prairie and Valleyview is well on track to being finished before the fall.
The 20 km stretch of highway is the last piece between the US border and our city that is not yet multi-lane.
Transportation Minister Wayne Drysdale says he’s impressed with how quickly work is moving along.
“The gravel is hauled and the seal coat is put on. It’s just the two spots where they’ve actually got to rip up the old highway and cross over there. Once they actually start paving, it doesn’t take long. I see they’ve got the paver moved out the other day, so I’m pretty happy it’s coming along fine, as long as we get some good weather.”
Drysdale says he is looking forward to having it finished on time as much as anyone else, but he also has another reason.
“This is a little bit selfish, but you know what I’d like? I know I’m going to be the Transportation Minister until at least September 6 when we have our new leader and I’d really like to be the one that cuts that ribbon. And the way it’s going, I can see it being done in August, though I don’t want to promise that.”
Drysdale says once the twinning in the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is complete, next up is the Highway 43X Bypass, and the final 50 km between Beaverlodge and the BC Border.