By Curtis Galbraith

Summer 2019 new target completion time for Highway 43X

Oct 19, 2018 | 5:30 AM

Work continues on the new Highway 43X, well past the original target completion date of mid-October.
 
Alberta Transportation regional director Ryan Konowalyk says the new target date is the summer of next year.
 
“They’re still working on the main line. They’re putting down all of the gravel materials that need to go down on top of the embankment material they’ve built. On top of that, they’ve also done some of the paving. We’re running out of season, so the rest of the work will happen next summer.”
 
He adds the delay can be blamed on the weather.
 
“Over the life of the project, we have experienced inclement weather. This year alone, we’ve lost over a month and, as everybody knows, there was some flooding this past spring that kind of delayed the start. We’re on track to have it open by next summer.”   
 
Konowalyk says some work should still be done this fall.
 
“There is some work happening west of Grande Prairie along where Highway 43X will tie into Highway 43, but that will all be wrapped up, back to a full-blown, four-lane highway before the winter season.”
 
Konowalyk says a new roundabout opened in late September and that part of the road is completely open.