Budget 2021 to fund second layer of paving on Highway 43X Bypass

Approximately $7 million in Alberta’s 2021 Capital Budget will be going to complete the paving of the Highway 43X Bypass project.

The bypass around the city’s northwest was opened to traffic on September 14, 2019. It came in at a cost of $48 million. The road connects Highway 43 between Range Road 63 north of the city and east of Richmond Hill, west of city limits.

Peace Regional Director for Alberta Transportation Ryan Konowalyk says this is the second phase of paving. It will see a second layer of asphalt laid over top of the entirety of the bypass this summer, which for engineering purposes is typically done a year or two after the initial asphalt has been laid.

“Because you’ve let that little bit of initial settlement and waviness come out, and then you go put the smooth surface back on top, and you put some more structure on to beef it up for the traffic.”