Page 80 - InvestinAlberta-EDA-2024-2

HIGHWAYS OF OPPORTUNITY
Two new major projects will make Northern Alberta more accessible, and benefit Fort McMurray’s economy
BY JOSEPH CAOUETTE
SITTING NEAR THE end of Highway 63, Fort McMurray is located in the midst of the Athabasca oil sands, surrounded by boreal forest. About 450 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, the province’s capital, it occupies a unique position among Alberta’s urban centres, central to the provincial economy yet geographically remote from other cities. Two new road projects announced in April 2023 will expand the city’s transportation options while bolstering the region’s economic ties to the rest of the province.
First, the provincial government has pledged $117 million to twin Highway 63 north of the city. The 12-kilometre section of road, stretching from the Peter Lougheed Bridge to Mildred Lake, hosts over 11,000 commuters and commercial vehicles daily. Twinning the busy road is expected to significantly improve driver safety while reducing commute times for workers headed to their shifts at the oilsands projects along the route.
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