The MD of Bonnyville council has decided in a 5-2 vote to continue with the roundabout slated for the intersection of Highways 55 and 892 and its agreement with the province to chip in $2 million towards it, and to accept a petition with 1,100 people opposed to the MD contributing the funds as information.
Councillors David Fox and Don Sinclair voted against the motion, while Reeve Ed Rondeau and Councillors Glen Johnson, Fred Bamber, Barry Kalinski and Mike Krywiak voted in favour.
Council had previously agreed to chip in $2 million for the provincial government to do something about the notoriously dangerous intersection, where the two provincial highways meet. The government said a roundabout or traffic circle was the best option. The MD agreed to provide the funds so the government would bump the intersection up its priority list and also widen a stretch of Highway 55. The MD also asked for a resource road grant for Wolf Lake Road, which it has since received. The grant is for $3 million.
Since its decision, the MD received a petition signed by people who are against the MD contributing $2 million to the project.
The petition states, “All the petitioners that we talked with were all against the building of a roundabout PERIOD.” It also questions why no information meetings were held to inform the public. The group states it would prefer traffic lights and said the wiring is already in place.
For the full story, see Tuesday's Bonnyville Nouvelle.
