Council approved spending just over $500,000 to complete a new truck route that will run behind Kevin's No Frills, during the May 28 meeting.
Mayor Jim Romane said currently people are cutting through the No Frills parking lot to get out to the 2A.
The truck route comes out at the corner of Fourlane Ford and Tim Hortons at 50 Street and 44 Avenue where drivers can turn left to head out of town or right into town.
The new route will extend from the Co-op bulk station east and will come out by the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, allowing drivers to turn onto Highway 2A.
Romane, along with the rest of council, is happy to see construction of a new route but has concerns that lights will have to be installed soon where the road turns onto the highway.
“I think trucks will have an issue getting back onto the 2A,” he said.
Coun. Derek Baird said getting the lights installed, possibly next year, has to “stay on the radar.”
“We will have a serious accident there some day. We need to stop people sweeping onto the highway,” he cautioned.
Money for the road will come from the federal gas tax fund grant and the operating budget. Darryl Joyce, director of corporate and protective services, said the town will look at installing lights on Highway 2A in 2013. The estimated cost is $302,500. He said the town is hoping to get grants via Alberta Transportation.
“What's important is it is budgeted; this isn't a surprise,” said Romane of the need to get the truck road fixed and completed.
