This release was issued under a previous government.
The $54-million investment in the bypass will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow and safety for travellers, local residents and businesses. The two-year project is expected to create hundreds of jobs.
“Building a new Grande Prairie bypass will create good jobs, enable economic growth, and make travel safer for families. With a local economy strongly tied to oil and gas, as well as forestry and agriculture, quality infrastructure and efficient transportation corridors are critical to move our world-class resources to market. A new bypass will support safer, more efficient travel for these industries and all Albertans.”
More than 27,000 vehicles a day currently use Highway 43, which goes directly through Grande Prairie, including heavy industrial traffic carrying dangerous goods.
“This bypass is one of several new projects added to the provincial highway construction program due in part to a funding increase in Transportation’s Capital Plan. It will support a strong economic foundation for the region and for all Albertans.”
“We are very pleased to see the Government of Alberta moving forward with this new bypass. When complete, Highway 43X will improve safety for motorists, reduce travel times for industry and open up significant new commercial and industrial development opportunities in the region.”
Acting on the advice of former Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge, the province has undertaken an ambitious $34.8-billion plan to build and upgrade critical infrastructure, including roads, transit, schools and hospitals.
Transportation’s $9.3-billion Capital Plan over the next five years will help get Albertans back to work at well-paying jobs, with nearly 600 projects slated for construction over the next three years.