SPN Commentary: Time to twin deadliest highway
Commentary by Kevin Laliberte
for South Peace News
One has to wonder if the Alberta government is prepared to finally set the wheels in motion for an aggressive timetable to twin Highway 63 to Fort McMurray.
Increased public pressure aimed at the government to twin the deadly stretch of highway comes in the wake of a two-vehicle head-on collision late last month which left seven people dead, including a two-year-old and an 11-year-old.
Ah, but this isn’t the first time the infamous road – deemed by many as Alberta’s most dangerous and deadly highway in the province – has experienced a tragic loss of life. In fact, the much-travelled route has a notorious reputation for claiming innocent lives including 46 the past five years.
Referred to by locals as the “Highway of Death” Highway 63 is the main access route from Edmonton to Fort McMurray. It starts in the south near the community of Radway and stretches north to Fort MacKay, covering a 240-kilometre stretch of dangerous, narrow, winding roadway.
One of the main factors contributing to the rising death toll on the highway in recent years continues to be an increase in the amount of traffic, much of which is directly attributed to resource-based activity with the Athabasca oilsands.
Additional realities contributing to Highway 63’s less than glowing reputation include trucks carrying heavy equipment which routinely occupy both lanes. That in itself paves the way for a heightened sense of frustration among many drivers, who are reduced to a virtual crawl behind them, with safe opportunities to pass far and few between.
The end result is far too many motorists often taking unsafe and unnecessary risks as a result.
Just ask Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen, who admits he doesn’t believe there’s ever been an occasion that he’s driven on the highway and not seen drivers rolling the dice by tempting fate.
“I’ve seen them (drivers) passing multitudes of vehicles on double lines or single lines, or passing at the crest of a hill,” he says.
With that in mind, it wasn’t surprising to hear last week the RCMP and Alberta Traffic Sheriffs laid upwards of 700 charges over a four-day enforcement period between May 3-6 between Redwater and Fort McMurray.
The breakdown included 552 speeding violations, 95 violations, including dangerous driving, four alcohol-related violations and one 24-hour suspension, eight violations for having no insurance or driving while suspended, as well as four seatbelt or child restraint infractions.
The province announced plans in 2006 to twin the 240-kilometre stretch of road, but only a handful of kilometres have been constructed so far. Another 36 kilometers are scheduled to be completed this year as part of an overall project the province has pegged at a cost of more than $1 billion.
Premier Alison Redford has said she will ask the province’s transportation minister to make the twinning of Highway 63 a priority.
Regardless of how long it takes, one thing remains clear. It isn’t just the responsibility of the province and RCMP to make Highway 63 a safer route of travel.
It’s up to each of us as safe and responsible motorists.
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