DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury and Mountain View County councils have passed motions regarding a proposed 23rd Street and Township Road (Twp. Rd.) 314 project on the boundary of the municipalities.
Passed last week, the motions call for the municipalities to jointly apply for a provincial Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) grant totalling $2.2 million.
The project’s overall estimate cost is $4.4 million, with a proposal for the town and Mountain View County to both contribute $586,670.
“The proposed project would greatly improve the foundational base of the road and overlay with the goal of improving longevity and reduce future maintenance costs,” said Didsbury chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner.
“With these upgrades, the road would be better equipped to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic to best serve businesses located in and outside the town municipal boundary, as well as accommodate for greater traffic volumes as Shantz Crossing continues to develop.
“Upgrades to the road are required to continue to accommodate heavy traffic.”
The current roadway at the site is in need of upgrade. It is used by commercial and private traffic to travel in and out of Didsbury.
Both the Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission, which owns and operates the nearby landfill, and AltaGras, which has a facility near the roadway north of town, have “engaged in an effort to participate in this project, he said.
“Both organizations recognize the importance that this north-south connector plays in regional economic prosperity and have agreed to contribute financially to the endeavour, with each agreeing to contribute five per cent of the total project cost to a maximum of $220,000 respectively.”
To garner support for the grant application, the Olds-Three Hills-Didsbury MLA (Nathan Cooper) and the Didsbury Agricultural Society will be engaged, he said.
On Nov. 12 Didsbury council carried a motion to “jointly apply with Mountain View County to the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program for a local initiatives grant for the 23rd Street and Twp. Rd. 314 road project.”
On Nov. 13 MVC council carried a motion directing administration to “jointly apply with the Town of Didsbury for a STIP local initiatives grant for the 23rd Street and Township Road 314 road project.”
