This release was issued under a previous government.

Flag person stops traffic during Hwy 63 construction

Flag person keeps traffic flowing during Highway 63 construction

More than 20 per cent of the 240 kilometres of twinning is complete and already open to the public, while more than 60 per cent of the project is under construction.

Albertans can look forward to future milestones:

  • by fall of 2015, 70 per cent of the twinning commitment is expected to be complete, and
  • the remaining 30 per cent will be completed by fall 2016.

Budget 2014 invests $423 million in Highway 63 improvements this fiscal year alone.

“Budget 2014 puts us in a solid position to stay on this aggressive construction schedule, keeping our promise to people in Fort McMurray and across Alberta. By this summer, all the contracts will have been awarded and we expect about 650 workers and 470 pieces of equipment to be out in full force.” 

Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation

A $423 million investment in 2014-15 more than doubles last year’s investment. In the last five months alone, $250 million in Highway 63 twinning contracts have been awarded.

“Now that the majority of the land purchases are complete and the clearing is almost done, I’m excited that we’re going to start seeing our twinned highway take shape. We are another year closer to a safe, smooth and reliable gateway for families and commuters as well as industry.”

Don Scott, MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin and Associate Minister of Accountability, Transparency and Transformation

Investing in market access

The accelerated twinning of Highway 63 is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to building Alberta’s economic future and providing a transportation network that helps move goods across Alberta to local, national or international markets.

Twinning between Highway 55 and Fort McMurray is one of many Highway 63 projects currently under construction.

The Alberta government has invested more than $1.4 billion towards various Highway 63 and 881 projects since 2005, providing critical infrastructure for the Athabasca oil sands region. In addition, more than $530 million in municipal grant funding has been allocated in the last eight years to support numerous local priorities.

Projects in the Fort McMurray urban area include the new five-lane Athabasca River Bridge, the rebuilding of the Steinhauer Bridge and development of the Franklin Tunnel, the rebuilding of the Grant MacEwan Bridge and work on the Confederation Way, Thickwood Boulevard and Parson’s Creek interchanges.

Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.