An industrial road behind No Frills is now up and running and has already started to alleviate traffic congestion, according to store management.
Signs and lighting are currently being installed for the 51 Street service road, which will be completed next year.
“It needed to be done,” said Richard Clark, No Frills assistant manager. “I'm glad they finally went through with it. I thought it would take years.”
Clark said while heavy truck use of their parking lot as a way to access businesses like the Co-op Cardlock and the slaughterhouse had already slowed “a bit,” he expects the volume to drop further when signs are put up.
He notes many of the drivers that will choose to use the road are from out of town and may not yet be aware of it.
“They're all still so used to going through here,” Clark said. “It's the next step to the development of the downtown. It all works together.”
While refuelling at the Co-op Cardlock, contractor Tim McAmmon said while he hasn't yet had a chance to drive the road, he's glad to hear the town went ahead with the project.
“I think it's the best thing they've done,” he said. “It provides easy access to Highway 2A.”
Subcontractor Josh Papp has tried it out and says having a dedicated road is preferable to using the parking lot in front of No Frills.
“It's a lot better than going through the speed bumps,” he said.
According to the Town of Innisfail, traffic lights will be installed next year, but builders have run into problems with moisture.
That doesn't surprise Clark.
“This is all swamp,” he said. “They raised it up two to three feet.”
The road has been opened to traffic, which will help compact the soil before the road gets paved next year.
