62HWY 43X near Range Road  (photo by Shaun Penner)

By Liam Verster

County of Grande Prairie

More work needed before Range Road 62 flyover can be shovel ready

May 26, 2020 | 12:59 PM

The County of Grande Prairie Council has directed Administration to work with an engineering firm to create a conceptual design and find out the costs of an overpass that would connect Range Road 62 over Highway 43X.

The move to direct Administration to do this work came after County Council voted against using $400,000 from the engineering line of the Pre-Engineering/Road Widening funds that are budgeted for the Divisional North Projects in 2021.

“There was quite a bit of discussion from Council about the fact that the detailed design (provided to Council by WSP) hasn’t had any input from Council, from the general public, things like that. So, there was a motion to take those funds from the engineering line and that motion lost,” said Reeve of the County, Leanne Beaupre.

“There was a subsequent motion that basically said ‘We’d like our Administration, in conjunction with the engineering firm, to come back with conceptual drawings, and engage Council with those conceptual drawings on what the flyover could look like, and if it would accommodate all of the concerns Council has.'”

Beaupre and Council want to know about some specific features to the flyover, including if pedestrian access would be by stairs, how accessible would it be to all residents and users, and would it accommodate bicycle traffic, or just pedestrians.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“We want to make sure that if we’re going to submit a project that we’re going to put our name to, and potentially have to fund a portion of it, we want to make sure it addresses all the needs of the people in that region, and the people in the County of Grande Prairie.”

Beaupre says this project has been in the County’s sights for quite some time, and that is identified in their long term strategic plan and transportation master plan as “being needed to create those pathways and connections between our County Sportsplex and some of the area that will be under development in the future in those areas, as well as linking potential school sites and recreation areas.”

She adds that school boards have been looking at possible new school sites on both the North and South side of Highway 43 X, and that if this flyover project is approved, it should serve their needs as well as the other users.

In September 2019, this intersection had been under consideration for a potential new traffic circle to link Range Road 62 with Highway 43 X. However, Beaupre says that option is no longer on the table, as Alberta Transportation has told them that it would not be appropriate for the site, and that they would never support the project.