Setback For La Loche to Fort McMurray Road

Monday, May 12, 2008 at 15:35

 

 

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways says he’s disappointed to hear the Alberta government doesn’t have a timeframe on when it will build its portion of a road from Fort McMurray to La Loche.

 

Wayne Elhard says he’s doing all he can to convince his provincial counterpart the road should be considered a priority.

 

He wonders if industry, specifically Oilsands Quest, could help lobby the Alberta government to speed the project along.

 

Meantime, a spokeswoman for Alberta Transportation says the road was never given a specific timeframe for completion.

 

Heather McLoughlin also says the project was never included in the government’s three-year capital plan.

 

But McLoughlin says work is still being done on the project.

 

She says a consultant has been hired, an engineering alignment has started and environmental studies have been initiated.

 

In 2005, then-Alberta Premier Ralph Klein announced his government would make the Alberta side of the project a priority.