The Government of Alberta has agreed to provide $2 million in funding to help pay for the design and engineering phase of a newly planned upgrade for the Highway 1 and Range Road 33 interchange near Springbank.
Rocky View County (RVC) council was advised of the province’s latest investment in the overpass upgrade, which is projected to cost $40 million to construct up until Stage 2, via a letter sent from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen to Reeve Crystal Kissel prior to the July 18 council meeting.
To date, the County and local developers have committed $24 million toward the total cost of design and construction of the overpass upgrade. This includes an $8 million commitment from the County, an $8 million commitment from Harmony Development Inc., and an $8 million from Bingham Crossing Properties Inc.
The $2 million from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is intended to help with the cost of an engineering study for Stage One design. The province had also previously committed $31 million to help with land acquisition for the project, bringing its total investment to date to $33 million.
RVC is hopeful the province will help with some portion of the $14 million still required to finish Stage Two construction.
Dreeshen did not rule out the possibility in his letter, but made no firm commitments.
“(F)unding for construction of the interchange will be considered as part of future budget deliberations,” he stated in his letter, “and may be advanced subject to overall government prioritization and funding availability.”
