UCP backs creation of new Highway 15 and 830 overpass near …

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The UCP government has made another project announcement that will benefit Strathcona County.

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The province announced some funding to look at building a new interchange in Alberta's Industrial Heartland at Highway 15 and Highway 830 near Shell Scotford. "Budget 2023 funds an engineering study for the Highways 15/830 overpass, which is a key infrastructure cog in the Industrial Heartland economic corridor network," explained Jordan Walker UCP MLA for Sherwood Park. "The Industrial Heartland is foundational to Strathcona County's and Alberta's prosperity. This critical infrastructure support will keep the Industrial Heartland globally competitive and a magnet for investment."

The interchange project would help ease congestion by separating Highway 830 and Range Road 214 from the adjacent rail tracks allowing north and southbound traffic to avoid crossing the railway tracks and avoid train delays.

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"We are excited for this announcement and the opportunities it will bring to Strathcona County and the whole Edmonton region," explained Mayor Rod Frank. "We are confident that this new interchange will increase traffic safety and the flow of goods and contribute significantly to our economic development." The province said the planning work is a first step of the project and would involved identifying how the interchange would interact with the adjacent rail line and the interchange configuration.

Budget 2023 includes £750,000 over three years for the planning and engineering of this project.

The province said traffic volume is about 9,970 vehicles a day, about 12 per cent of which is heavy truck traffic.

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This announcement comes a few weeks after the NDP announced its plans for the intersection. "Several weeks ago we announced £500,000 for a planning study for the interchange at Highway 15 and Highway 830 because we see the value in Alberta's Industrial Heartland and all the thousands of workers that go there for work each day," explained Bill Tonita, NDP candidate for Strathcona-Sherwood Park. "It is important to note we would do the study in the first year but the UCP will roll out a bunch of money over three years to look at the problem, which is a relatively minor problem, but we need to determine the best way to build it. We've announced £500,000 and we anticipate the interchange will require a diamond interchange to the tune of £200-million to £250-million which we are committing to building."

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Tonita said the NDP has solid plans and want the project done quickly, not down the road. Sue Timanson, Alberta Party candidate for Sherwood Park, said her party likely won't form government but she would be an active advocate for Sherwood Park if elected. "We know we won't form government in the next election so it becomes my job to do two things.

One, it allows me to represent the people of Sherwood Park to the legislature versus bringing party points back, so representation is a big part," Timanson said. "It also allows me to hold whoever is in government to account to live up to the promises they are making. There are a lot of promises being thrown out willy-nilly by both sides and the follow-through is what is going to be critical to Albertans and critical to Sherwood Park."

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Jacob Stacey, Liberal party candidate for Sherwood Park, thinks infrastructure investment is the key to Alberta's economic growth and long-term success.

"For too long it has taken a back seat to other priorities of previous governments such as a £4.5 billion tax relief to the big five oil & gas companies, rather the reinvesting in Albertans," explained Stacey. "So of course I support the redevelopment of the intersection that makes it better for commuters. The Liberals recognize that Alberta needs three new hospitals which is a considerable cost and takes about ten years to become functional. Further we need a significant number of new schools throughout Alberta as immigrant population increases.

I am in support of this project, and the Liberals have a plan for improvement and development of infrastructure throughout Alberta." [email protected] twitter.com/travisdosser

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