Today Peace River got an update on the construction of its new bridge. Transportation Minister Brian Mason was at the construction site this morning to deliver the update.
“We work hard to deliver our projects on budget and on time, and so far, we’re doing extremely well with this project,” says Mason.
Mason says so far, the project is slightly ahead of schedule and slightly under budget. He notes the cost of the bridge, including improving both ends to make sure traffic can safely move onto the bridge, will be about $162-million. Mason adds once construction begins on the intersections on either side of the bridge, detours and delays will be expected.
“This will be a really important thing for northern Alberta,” says Mason. “Not only for the convenience for people and the safety for people, but to encourage trade and economic development in northern Alberta.”
During his talks about the construction, Mason was surrounded by local representatives and members of local government which included Peace River MLA Debbie Jabbour and Peace River Mayor Tom Tarpey. Jabbour, a long time advocate of the project, says the new bridge is essential to the Peace region.
“Last year we had more construction going on in my constituency than anywhere else in the province, and I think that’s a wonderful thing because we’ve needed it for a long time,” says Jabbour. “It does mean that residents have to put up with a little bit of delays, but the outcome is, we’re going to have better roads up here, and a fabulous new bridge.”
Tarpey weighed in on the project as well, saying he estimates over 200 jobs will be created over the time the bridge is built. He adds the bridge will be a big benefit to the region, as Peace River is the economic portal to northwestern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
“The biggest thing on people’s minds is pipelines, but roads are really pipelines for people,” says Tarpey. “It’s people who make things happen, it’s people who build economies, so that’s another positive aspect of this. It’ll bring more people to northwestern Alberta.”
Mason says the bridge is scheduled to be open at the end of the construction season in 2020.
-JD
