April 8, 2013, St.
Albert, Alta. – To support completion of the last stage of Ray
Gibbon Drive, the Alberta government is handing over the final installment of
$17.2 million to the City of St. Albert.
April 8, 2013, St.
Albert, Alta. – To support completion of the last stage of Ray
Gibbon Drive, the Alberta government is handing over the final installment of
$17.2 million to the City of St. Albert.
"This is an investment in St. Albert and it’s
also about building Alberta’s economic and trade future. By working together to
improve core infrastructure and key corridors, we are expanding market access,”
says Hon. Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation. "During this time of
fiscal restraint, we are continuing to invest in the projects that have the
greatest impact on our future growth."
The city and the province share the cost for the
construction of Ray Gibbon Drive. The road is intended to become the future
alignment of Highway 2, currently running the length of St. Albert Trail
through the centre of St. Albert. It will continue to be a critical economic
driver for the region.
“The City of St. Albert deeply appreciates the
provincial government’s support for this critical transportation corridor
serving the people of St. Albert and the region,” says Mayor Nolan Crouse. “Ray
Gibbon Drive is of strategic significance to St. Albert as we execute on our
plans for economic development and build out the 617 acres of employment lands
adjacent to the road; and is important to the Capital Region as the future
alignment of Highway 2, which is the north-south transportation lifeline for
the province.”
The province has reimbursed the city for costs
associated with upgrading the road from a two-lane arterial standard to an
eventual eight-lane provincial freeway, including related expenses, such as
land purchase and planning studies. The total construction and land costs to
complete all three stages are $75.75 million. This is cost-shared $38.97
million by the City of St. Albert and $36.78 million by the province from the
Strategic Transportation Initiative Program.
Ray Gibbon Drive Stage One (137 Avenue up to
McKenney Avenue) and Stage Two (McKenney Avenue to Giroux Road) were opened in
the fall of 2007, while construction of the final Stage Three (Giroux Road to
Villeneuve Road) started in April 2012 and is expected to open in August 2013.
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