ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION: Building roads to economic recovery

Alberta Transportation issued the following announcement on Dec. 3.

During the 2020 construction season, almost $1 billion was invested in more than 150 projects across Alberta. These projects will be built over the next few years and support more than 9,200 jobs.

“Alberta’s government spent almost $1 billion to build roads and bridges and supported over 9,200 jobs. I am grateful for the hard work of Alberta’s construction workers who spent long summer days on-site to make sure families and job creators have quality roads and bridges to get to work and school. Alberta’s government is relentlessly focused on job creation and 2020’s construction season reflects that focus.”

Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation

Budget 2020 invested $5.7 billion over three years in the Provincial Construction Program for planning, design and construction of roads and bridges, Capital Maintenance and Renewal (CMR) funding for smaller construction and rehabilitation projects, water management and flood recovery projects, and capital grants.

Alberta’s Recovery Plan doubled CMR funding to expedite projects that address economic challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. This will support 109 projects that will fix and improve Alberta’s highways.

“The ARHCA commends government for putting idle machinery and labour to work, protecting the public’s investment in roads and bridges. Due to the economic downturn, our industry has a lot of capacity, and the public is getting good value for much-needed repairs to infrastructure. More importantly, when you take into account the materials, supplies and services our crews use, like hotels and restaurants, these projects create thousands of indirect jobs and economic spinoff benefits to communities all across Alberta.”

Ron Glen, CEO, Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs now. By building schools, roads and other core infrastructure we are benefiting our communities. By diversifying our economy and attracting investment with Canada’s most competitive tax environment, we are putting Alberta on a path for a generation of growth.

Quick facts

• Budget 2020 invests $5.7 billion over three years in Transportation’s Capital Plan, including:
  • $2.3 billion for planning, design and construction of roads and bridges
  • $1.17 billion in Capital Maintenance and Renewal for smaller bridge construction projects and major highway and bridge rehabilitation projects
  • $286.3 million for water management and flood recovery
  • $1.96 billion for capital grants
• To support job creation and economic recovery under the Government of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, capital maintenance and renewal funding was doubled.
  • In Transportation, $404.5 million was allocated for the next several years to support 109 projects to maintain and improve the condition of the highway network.
  • An additional $60 million for maintenance was set aside for pothole repairs and other critical safety measures.
• Projects in the 2020 construction season included general maintenance activities, such as pothole repair, crack sealing, line painting, repaving, bridge rehabilitation, grading of gravel roads, and safety barrier installation. Examples include:
  • Paving work on Highway 63 in the Fort McMurray region.
  • Slide repairs, paving, bridge replacements, intersection and lighting work in the Peace River region.
  • Highway twinning, traffic light instalments, roundabout construction and ongoing work on the southwest Anthony Henday expansion in the Edmonton region.
  • Interchange improvements, frost heave repairs and dam infrastructure upgrades in the central Alberta region.
  • Continued construction on the Calgary Ring Road, intersection improvements and new safety rest areas in the Calgary region.
• Throughout construction, these projects will support:
  • 109 jobs in the Fort McMurray region
  • 978 jobs in the Peace River region
  • 1,786 jobs in the north central region, including Edmonton
  • 757 jobs in the central region, including Red Deer
  • 5,575 jobs in the southern region, including Calgary
• Construction on these shovel-ready projects began in June 2020 and will continue to 2022-2023.

Original source can be found here.