Construction could begin within weeks on a highway roundabout project designed to improve heavy traffic problems at this region's most dangerous intersection after MD of Bonnyville council gave final approval to proceed with the project at a special meeting Monday.
"Everything is ready to go ... the province is ready to go to tender. They are just waiting for your approval today," said MD of Bonnyville Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Poole before council voted 5-2 in favour of spending $2 million or half of the estimated $4 million to complete the roundabout at the intersection of Highways 55 and 892.
The fact a local petition has been circulated which opposes local taxpayers contributing any money towards a provincial highway project was discussed by councillors, but didn't prevent them from proceeding with the vote to finalize the contract with the province to proceed with roundabout construction as quickly as possible.
Reeve Ed Rondeau pointed out more than once that $2 million is the maximum local taxpayers will pay towards the project.
"If it ends up costing $3.6 million, we pay $1.8 million, but if it costs $4.5 million, we only pay $2 million," said Rondeau.
Councillors David Fox and Don Sinclair, who were the two members of council opposed to spending local tax dollars on the provincial highway project when it was first brought to the table for discussion last November, were again the only two opposed Monday.
Rondeau and councillors Fred Bamber, Glen Johnson, Barry Kalinski and Mike Krywiak voted in favour of finalizing the contract with the Ministry of Transportation to build the roundabout.
Approving the contract means the province should begin the tendering process within days, with construction expected to begin later this spring as the Ministry of Transportation has specified in its contract its plan to have the project finished by the middle of October, said Poole.
Fox was concerned the MD was voting to proceed with the roundabout project without confirmation from the province to proceed with a second project to widen 16 kilometres of Highway 55 in the LaCorey/Iron River area.
The province made it very clear it would pay for the widening of Highway 55 once the MD of Bonnyville approved spending $2 million on the roundabout project, said Rondeau.
Rondeau responded to Fox's concerns by pointing to two letters sent by the Ministry of Transportation to MD council in the past four months. Both letters clearly state the province fully intends on completing widening of Highway 55 once land acquisition negotiations with several landowners is completed, said Rondeau.
Kalinski added he has no concerns at all about the province reneging on its previous commitment to widen Highway 55 once land acquisition is complete.
"Once we get the land, we're good to go," said Kalinski.
Rondeau added "there are complex land negotiations" going on with several landowners along the affected part of Highway 55 and negotiations like this aren't completed in a matter of days.
He reiterated the province has made it very clear widening Highway 55 "is a top priority" and will proceed once land acquisition is completed, said Rondeau.
The original plan to complete the roundabout and widen Highway 55, both in 2011, could be delayed by several months, but that doesn't mean the province will renege on its original plan to complete both projects as quickly as possible, said Rondeau.
Bamber agreed, saying the province remains committed to both projects and has made it clear completing all land acquisition necessary to widen Highway 55 remains a top priority.
"We're not talking about a bunch of robbers here," he said. "We're talking about our provincial government. That's as good a guarantee as we need. I'm convinced they will complete the Highway 55 project as soon as negotiations for the land are finished."
Because of the petition being circulated, Sinclair said he was in favour of delaying any vote on the roundabout contract until the next regular meeting of council on April 13.
Rondeau disagreed.
"Do we stop doing business every time a petition is circulated?" he asked rhetorically. "A petition like this could take months until they get the numbers they need. I think we continue doing our business."
Johnson agreed, saying no one from council was informed or has any idea about what's contained in the petition and council should not be deterred from conducting business and making important decisions based on a petition it has no information about.
The roundabout is being built to try and alleviate serious traffic congestion problems at the busy intersection, located close to oil and gas facilities owned by Cenovus, Imperial Oil, Husky and Shell.
Those circulating the petition insist the MD should not be spending taxpayer money on a provincial road project and suggest a set of traffic lights would be sufficient to handle the heavy traffic at the intersection during rush hour in the morning and late afternoon.
