Upgrades to the intersection by Five Mile Hall are expected to begin in earnest in 2022 (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

Intersection Upgrade

County to install traffic circle at Five Mile school site intersection

Aug 26, 2021 | 12:19 PM

A traffic circle is set to be installed along Township Road 714 in the County of Grande Prairie at the Five Mile Hall intersection.

This comes after County Council approved a bid to complete the work at it’s Monday meeting at a cost of just over $2 million.

Public Works Director Dale Van Volkingburgh says this was the best option to upgrade the intersection, as a new Grade K-8 school will be built in the area to serve as a replacement for Harry Balfour School.

“With the new school going in it was really functional study that said how do you move buses and that style of traffic around? And also, the amount of road right-of-way you would need to facilitate (any) option,” said Van Volkingburgh.

While other options were explored for the area, he adds a traffic circle also creates the least amount of impact on the area.

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

“That’s why we changed to the traffic circle. It had less area impact.”

Van Volkingburgh adds while the traffic circle will be built, the stretch of Range Road 53 from the intersection to the entrance of the school site will also be paved.

“So going north is also part of the project, to the school,” said Van Volkingburgh. “It’s kind of a combination: upgrade the intersection and give paved access to the new future school.”

With the tender awarded to Wapiti Gravel Suppliers for the project, Van Volkingburgh says some of the project work will get underway this year, but the bulk of the project won’t get going until next spring.

“We wanted to make sure we could complete (the traffic circle), and not have to go through a winter delay,” said Van Volkingburgh. “You’ll see some of that roadwork happening on the north-south section to the school happening this fall, and then the remainder will happen next construction season in 2022.”

The project will be funded from the County’s New Road Reserve and the Surfaced Road Rehab Reserve.

Also at Monday’s meeting council awarded a contract to complete water and sanitary sewer work and install a lift station at the school site in the amount of $1.4 million.

RELATED: County granted $2.6 million to help service Five Mile school site

It is expected the construction of the new K-8 school will begin in fall of this year.