County councillors agreed to take part in a study regarding the construction of a new Highway 1 interchange in Springbank, Sept. 12.
The study, proposed by the Minister of Transportation, Luke Ouellette, will look at several options, including building a new interchange along Highway 1 or upgrading the current interchange. The letter also suggested Rocky View take jurisdiction over Highway 563, now maintained by Province.
Although County councillors agreed to take part in the study, there was much debate about the need for a new interchange.
Councillor Margaret Bacheli raised concern that the interchange was being considered to accommodate developers and is not needed.
“I note a few things that smack of “fait accomplis,” she said. “We have a perfectly acceptable… and legal interchange in place right now. This is about time and money and resources.”
County CAO Rob Coon took exception to Bacheli’s suggestion that staff has already accepted the interchange upgrade as a done-deal, rather than from a planning perspective.
“It’s not for us to challenge the minister’s actions,” said Coon.
Councillor Boehlke agreed.
“You are coming on like this is Rocky View that initiated this,” he said. “If you don’t want Rocky View to take part in a functional study, just say so.”
Bacheli said there are a number of factors that need to be considered, in addition to just counting the traffic, including fairness for local residents and businesses.
“The problem here is the removal of existing infrastructure,” said Bacheli. “That is going to be a hot button. (I am) worried about an equal playing field for developers on either side of the highway. We are being asked to take out 60-year-old infrastructure that a community has been built around.”
Councillor Rick Butler said although it is important to include a list of the County’s objectives in the reply, at this point it is just a study.
“I see this very simply as us being asked to agree to a study,” he said.
According to Butler, the County should reiterate in its reply that the study must include input from stakeholders and residents, and that it include a number of options, including keeping the current infrastructure.
Councillor Lois Habberfield agreed the study should involve residents, but said she is happy to let Alberta Transport plan the roads.
“It is about time Alberta Transport did some studies,” she said. “We have other issues to deal with. It is just a study at this point, the Province does them all the time.”
The County received more than 20 letters from residents, raising concerns about changing the status quo.
Habberfield raised concern about the sentiment expressed in the letters.
“I worry this is an attempt to say ‘if we stop the infrastructure… we’ll stop the development,’” she said. “There is a desire to stop the city (of Calgary) from creeping westward, but Calgary has annexed land and there is going to be development.”
