Years. That's how long Lac La Biche County's Plamondon-area councillor has been waiting for a smooth surface over her community's downtown main street.
But last week Colette Borgun heard the news directly from two of the top provincial politicians responsible for making the project a reality.
During Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's surprise visit to the community on August 7, along with Alberta Transportation Minister Ric McIver, the announcement was made to approve $400,000 worth of funding to pave 800 metres of the Plamondon Main Street. The road, which is also part of the provincial Highway 858 has been left as a bumpy thoroughfare for more than two years after underground utility upgrades and new sidewalk construction. During that time, municipal officials have been trying to discuss the needed re-surfacing with Alberta Transportation officials — and while recent discussions showed promise, Kenney and McIver's in-person announcement solidified the deal.
"For all this time, residents and visitors have had to swerve all across the road to miss the holes," said Borgun who said she has championed the project from a community standpoint and a personal one. "It was unacceptable to me."
With all the back and forth discussions — which at one point late last year did result in the project being put onto the Alberta Transportation list of upcoming projects ... only to be removed a few weeks later — Borgun tried not to lose hope.
"I couldn't bare to think that that road was going to stay that way until who knows when," she said, explaining that she sent letters and notices to the local MLA's office, offered road tours and pleaded for the project to get the province's approval. While Borgun also credits the work of the municipal administration for continuing to push the issue, she is also thankful to Fort McMurray - Lac La Biche MLA Laila Goodridge who did tour the area during the recent flooding emergency in the Lac La Biche region.
Goodridge had taken video footage of several roads and infrastructure projects in the area and made McIver's office aware.
Borgun said McIver's hands-on involvement with area roads might not stop at Plamondon's Main Street. While the minister was in the community, Borgun toured him north around the lake on the gravel section of Highway 858.
"Most of that road is lower than the ditch and the grass is growing on the road," said Borgun, explaining that she stressed the need to pave the 12 kilometre stretch of the highway that links to Highway 881.
Although making no official promises, Borgun said the minister added the road to "his list".
The premier, McIver and Good ridge also took part in tours of the Mission Historical Site, Lac La Biche's El-Kareem Mosque, the White Russian village north of Plamondon and a boat tour of Lac la Biche Lake.
In news release — written in both English and French — about the approval of the road paving funding, McIver said the project shows the cooperation between municipal and provincial governments.
"I commend the work of the County of Lac La Biche in helping us move this project forward. It’s another great example of provincial-municipal cooperation," McIver said.
The road funding announcement, along with another for a $1.8 million commitment to building wastewater lift stations in Plamondon, is part of the Alberta Recovery Plan, a campaign to get Albertans working by providing project funding. McIver said the paving project serves two purposes for rural Albertans.
“This project will ensure a safe and improved driving surface through the community of Plamondon while getting Albertans back to work," he said.
