ATHABASCA - “Replacing the Athabasca Bridge on Highway 813 could start as soon as 2019-2020.”
That’s what Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater MLA Colin Piquette told the Advocate in July 2016. It was an unfunded capital project at the time, one step away from being added to the province’s capital plan, but the MLA was sure to add the caveat that he couldn’t guarantee the project would be in the budget for 2019, and that it would depend on provincial finances, among other factors.
“As far as where the bridge is at, it’s going according to plan,” he said. “The right of way, the preliminary studies have taken place and they’re looking for more details, results and reports – and that’s coming up to tender right away,” he said at the time.
In response to a May 2019 question in the legislature from Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken regarding whether the new bridge would continue to be a priority for the Alberta government, Transportation Minister Ric McIver confirmed it would.
“The bridge the honourable member refers to obviously has to be a priority, my understanding is that, with the absence of the bridge the alternate route is an additional 80-kilometre trip each way, so consequently it’s a big issue for our areas north of the bridge which are hard to access without this particular piece of infrastructure,” he said. “It is a priority and I will keep the member informed as we move along.”
Fast forward ahead to summer 2021, and the rusty, 900-foot, wood-decked bridge, is still doing its job as it has since it was constructed in 1952, but modern-day, heavy industrial traffic can make crossing the span a challenge, and a frightening one at that.
“The Highway 813 bridge is a key investment in rural transportation infrastructure that will create jobs and make life easier and better for Albertans working on both sides of the river,” said Alberta Transportation spokesperson Mark Jacka in a recent e-mail.
“Construction on the bridge project is not yet underway. Pre-qualification for contractors is complete and we anticipate awarding the tender later this summer; we will not have a final cost until then. We expect construction to take approximately two years to complete.”
During an April meeting between minister McIver and members of Athabasca County, the minister said he expected work to begin in July, but there had been a few snags along the way. Reeve Larry Armfelt confirmed this but did not elaborate.
A source later told the Advocate erosion concerns were holding the project up and core samples would be collected to analyze the risk.
“The placement may have to be changed again because of that,” they said.
Jacka noted residents have likely seen the maintenance contractor nearby doing preliminary work, like clearing trees, throughout the spring to make the construction site more accessible to workers.
He went on to point out the bridge project was first announced in the province’s 2020 budget, as part of $10-billion in infrastructure spending.
“These investments will further diversify our economy by helping sectors grow and succeed and return investment to our province by ensuring we have the most competitive tax environment in Canada,” he said.
