By Shaun Penner

Highway 40

Highway 40 twinning construction slated to begin in spring

Mar 17, 2021 | 3:13 PM

The twinning of the first 19 kilometres of Highway 40 from south of Grande Prairie to just south of the West Fraser Timber (Norbord) OSB Plant is set to have shovels hit the ground this spring, according to Peace Regional Director for Alberta Transportation Ryan Konowalyk.

Konowalyk says the first phase of the project has been tendered, which will see the highway twinned from south of Grande Prairie across the Wapiti River to the Highway 666 turnoff.

“Shovels will be in the ground this spring,” said Konowalyk. “[The contractor] will probably wait until the frost is right out of the ground before they really get moving.”

The project was first announced in February of 2020. It is a cost-sharing venture by the province, County of Grande Prairie and MD of Greenview. The County has put forward $10 million, while the MD of Greenview will pay for half of the work, up to $60 million.

That stretch of highway will also have a second bridge built over the river. A median vehicle inspection station is also planned.

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Konowalyk says the remaining section of twinning the reset of the 19-kilometre stretch will then happen at a later date.

“That [phase] will follow this one, so I probably wouldn’t give a date quite yet on that one.”

The project has been long advocated for by area municipalities as they sought to improve the safety of the busy highway.

A 2019 report released by the County and completed by Edmonton-based economic consulting firm Nichols Applied Management Ltd., suggests that over a 30-year period, the net social benefit to twinning the first 19 kilometres of the highway south of the city would be $483.7 million.

RELATED: County hoping new report helps advocate for twinning of Highway 40

The benefit is calculated based on several factors, such as reduced travel times and traffic delays, as well as improved safety along that stretch of highway.