Mackenzie County Reeve Josh Knelsen says he is hopeful the government will give something to the region it has wanted for a long time.
Transportation Minister, Ric McIver was in the region this week on a follow-up visit to discuss options of replacing the ferry at Tompkins Crossing.
McIver said in an interview with the Trending 55 Newsroom that the ferry is near the end of its useful life.
“We have been asking for a bridge for many, many years and have been told there is not enough traffic,” says Knelsen.
“We disagree with that (opinion on limited traffic) and we are willing to take it on, obviously with collaboration with the government but in a way we are willing to pay for it.”
In a letter to the county, McIver said that if tolls, or user fees, were used to finance the bridge, construction could start as soon as next year.
Knelsen says with the ferry near the end of its life, something needs to be done for people to cross the Peace River.
“It it means getting a bridge versus not getting a bridge, let’s put in a toll and make it happen, says the reeve.
A ferry was considered but Knelsen adds that ferries can be unreliable for motorists who regularly rely on them.
“Either the water is too high, or too low,” explains Knelsen.
“Between spring breakup, the thaw, as well as fog, people could be waiting for three-to-four hours on some days.”
Knelsen says nothing has been finalized as of yet and did not have an idea what a perspective toll would be,
“It has to be to the point where you don’t discourage people from using it but it has to make sense,” he says.
He also feels the community would support a toll bridge as well.
“A bridge has a life span of roughly 100 years so if we don’t pay for it in 20 years, that’s okay. I am okay with my kids and grandkids paying for this because they will be using it as well,” concludes Knelsen.
– KEnny Trenton, Trenidng 55 Newsroom
