My Speeches

Questions on Highway 13

Posted on Jun 05, 2007

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, April 20, about 80 people showed up for a meeting in the little town of Rosalind. Those concerned citizens were there to find out about the timelines for fixing the atrocious conditions of highway 13 from Killam to Legacy Junction outside of Camrose. That major provincial artery is hardly passable in the rain because of the ruts worn in the road, and most ambulances avoid the road altogether when possible
because it’s rough enough to endanger the health of sensitive patients being transported to Camrose. To the Minister of Infrastruc-ture and Transportation: when will this road be fixed to the standards of a major provincial artery?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Ouellette: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the hon. member for his question because this is a very, very serious issue. My department is very aware of the problems with highway 13. We are in the process of purchasing the right-
of-
way right now
to do the eventual widening and reconstruction of the road. While this project is not in our current year’s plan right now, we are taking the initial steps towards improving the program right away.

Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, it was brought to my attention by a staff member of the department that the minister confirmed to the county of Camrose that there could be done a rut fill and thin lift overlay as a temporary solution to make the road tolerable and passable until such time as the necessary re-
engineering and development of the
road could be completed. My constituents would like to know: when can this important rut fill and thin lift overlay be completed?

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, our plan is to try to get the rut fill done for sure this year and the thin overlay if possible. If not, it will be on our priority list for next year. In the meantime, as soon as the weather permits, our maintenance contractor is going to be out there doing whatever he can to get the ruts out of the road now.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister assure me and my constituents that performing the temporary measure of a rut fill and thin lift overlay will not delay the major construction work of widening the road and rebuilding the base, that is so desperately needed to bring the road up to its proper status as a major provincial transportation artery?

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, the rut fill is actually the first phase of the construction. It will not delay the eventual widening and reconstruction. The fill and overlay are meant to give motorists a better road surface until we can get the major project done, and it will have no effect on the timing of getting the major project done.