Alberta Transportation’s relocation and reconstruction of Highway 55 and 813 is ahead of schedule.
“The work is progressing really well on the project,” said Alberta Transportation spokesperson Heather Kaszuba.
“Most recently they have erected girders, and before that they completed various work on the abutments, or the sides of the bridge.”
The project is a $14.2 million job being carried out by Carmacks Enterprise Ltd.
The project started work last September, and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2013.
“What we’re seeing is that progress has been very positive, and it’s actually quite possible that they will finish ahead of schedule,” Kaszuba said. “I can’t provide any adjusted timelines at this point, but they are doing very well.”
The extensive project includes a detour to allow the crew to build the new bridge, as well as a new channel for the Tawatinaw River.
“These improvements are to address the issues with continual ground movement of the valley slopes that impacted the current structures,” Alberta Transportation’s project information reads. “Other activities include widening of Highway 55 to meet future traffic through the area and minor realignment of Highway 813 and 50th Avenue (extension) to connect to the new highway intersection.”
Three stages are being carried out, as per the project information.
Stage One is the new Tawatinaw bridge construction. Stage Two consists of Tawatinaw channel diversion including development of the spawning marsh and construction of new road connections for the new Highway 55 intersection. Finally, Stage Three includes the removal of existing bridges as well as Highway 55 reconstruction and overlay.
