Photo: Shaun Penner

By Shaun Penner

43X Bypass

Highway 43X bypass really close to being done: Alberta Transportation

Sep 5, 2019 | 11:45 AM

Though Alberta Transportation was hoping to have the Highway 43X bypass open by the end of last month, it remains closed as crews are still putting the finishing touches on the new stretch of highway.

Regional Director for the Peace Region, Ryan Konowalyk says the rainy summer has created a bit of an uphill battle for them.

“We had initially been targeting the end of August, and I’m sure as everybody in Grande Prairie is aware, it has been quite a wet summer,” said Konowalyk. “So, we’re pushed back a couple of weeks, but the good news is that we’re getting really close to having that opened to traffic.”

Wet weather continues to be the theme in the delays of opening the new stretch of highway. Both 2017 and 2018 weather conditions created issues for crews, which included some flooding during the 2018 construction year. Alberta Transportation had originally hoped to open it in the fall of 2018, but those conditions pushed the timeline back to this summer.

Konowalyk says despite all of that, there is just a little bit of work to be done before they can officially open it.

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“Some isolated paving of areas and pavement markings, things like that,” said Konowalyk. “We’re looking at a stretch of decent weather and we’re getting real close.”

“Obviously, after that, there will still be some clean up going on and stuff like that, but traffic will be able to use the new highway here very shortly.”

This stretch of highway is eagerly anticipated by many, as it will help provide some relief to the already beat up roadways in Grande Prairie, as it will take a lot of the commercial traffic off city roads. It will also provide quicker ways for people to get around to different ends of the city.

“If somebody is coming from the west and maybe works to the north, or vice-versa, obviously this would provide a direct, full speed link, as opposed to having to traverse through the city or up to Costco and up 116 (Street),” said Konowalyk. “We’re really hoping that alleviates some of that traffic congestion.”

With that, Alberta Transportation is hoping to have the bypass open by mid-September.