An update to the story we published this morning — construction work has wrapped up on CN rail lines north of Lac La Biche and Highway 881 was open to north and southbound traffic in the area as of 9 pm Tuesday night.
Work included rail line upgrades on a section of track near the Barnegat Corner leading up to the crossing just north of the Touchwood Lake and Lakeland Provincial Park intersection.
Original information:
North and southbound traffic on Highway 881 near Lac La Biche is being detoured today due to road-side rail line work.
The work is on a portion of the CN railway line that runs alongside the busy highway north of the Barnegat Corner — about 15 kilometres north of the Lac La Biche hamlet. The extent of the maintenance work forced the road closure in the immediate area and detour suggestions for travel along the highway. The 881 road closure will affect commercial and industrial traffic on the stretch of highway from the the weigh scales near the Bold Center to the Heart Lake corner. Some local traffic in the area is permitted.
Detours to Highway 63 have been created for drivers travelling through the area. Alberta Transportation officials are also advising that motorists can use the Alpac K Road near Heart Lake to cut-across the area.
The road closure began on Tuesday morning and is expected to continue into the night.
Use 63 or K Road
A sign noting the road closure has been set up for more than two weeks on Highway 881 near the Bold Center, but road crews were still needed to block the roadway and help re-route traffic on Tuesday.
The work on the rail line is expected to be completed by 10:30 pm.
