It’s great news that the twinning of Ray Gibbon Drive is finally on the provincial list. While this sounds very optimistic, it’s important to keep this in realistic perspective.
The project is on the province’s unfunded list and it is 104 on a list of 123 other unfunded projects. The province states the 123 unfunded projects list is not complete and more projects could be added to it. The cost estimate of $330 million is based on 2007 costs, and the list is for projects 35 years out to 2041. Even if it was prioritized ahead of many other high priority projects, like schools, colleges, hospitals, etc. and was twinned by say 2030 (?) it could cost closer to $500 million.
Right now Ray Gibbon is owned by the city. It’s absolutely critical that the province recognize this will become an extension of provincial Highway 2 and take over ownership of this road so that it becomes significantly higher priority on the province’s funded list. Otherwise, realistically, we could be stuck in traffic forever.
Mike Killick, St. Albert
