Some big piles of gravel are appearing along the Big Bend on Hwy 2 just south of Red Deer in anticipation of some spring work.
A project to overlay both northbound and southbound parts of the highway just north of Hwy 590 at Innisfail is set to begin in late May to early June.
Crews recently began stockpiling gravel at the site because it will be a night paving operation and the asphalt will thus be made on site.
Local Alberta Transportation construction manager Andy Hudson said local residents and businesses will soon be officially informed on what will take place and when.
Also in that section of Hwy 2, two roadside turnouts will be taken out for safety reasons.
One will be on the northbound lanes just south of Red Deer, the other southbound opposite the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
Further south, two projects will get underway this season near Olds.
The interchange between Hwys 2 and 27 will be upgraded to improve safety.
“We’ve had some safety concerns regarding weaving and cars moving in and out so we are reconfiguring the interchange to reduce that amount of weave, which involves closing two of the loops and providing an alternative route with an interchange,” explained Hudson.
He said information on the project will go out to area residents very soon.
Another nighttime paving project will take place on a 20-km stretch on Hwy 2 between Hwys 581 and 27.
Gravel will be stockpiled there also for the cold milling inlay work to be done, which involves grinding up the surface, adding oil, and relaying it.
A turnout is scheduled to be removed just south of Olds as well, but that contract is still being tendered.
The province committed $134 million in this year’s budget for highway rehabilitation, $104 million less than its commitments two years prior.
It is largely focusing on major new road infrastructure projects, such as twinning Hwy 63 to Fort McMurray, over road repair.
The Transportation Department’s own business plan suggests the percentage of highways rated as being in good condition will fall seven points from 2011-12 levels to 52 per cent, and the percentage of those in poor condition will rise to 18 per cent.
Other area roadwork is to be done on:
l Hwy 21 between Hwys 582 and 583
l Hwy 27, from 12 km west of Hwy 21 to one km west of Hwy 21
l Hwy 585, from Hwy 21 to east of Hwy 836
l Hwy 587, on either side of Hwy 805
l Hwy 590, from Hwys 791 to 805
l Hwy 592, from Hwys 781 to 2A
Chip seal work (laying a thin course over existing pavement) will take place on:
l Hwy 835, from Hwys 594 to 12
l Hwy 11, from Red Deer to east of Hwy 815
mfish@www.reddeeradvocate.com