PENHOLD - The Town of Penhold is requesting funding from the province to make Highway 42 safer for Penhold drivers and citizens.
"We're applying for a grant to put highway lighting along Highway 42 and at another crosswalk that will cross Highway 42 into the new Oxford Subdivision," said Mayor Dennis Cooper.
In addition, proposed funding would provide for lighting along Waskasoo Avenue to Penhold Crossing Secondary School.
The funding falls under Alberta Transportation's Local Municipal Initiatives (LMI) program to help support initiatives not eligible for funding under other (Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program) components, such as park access road paving.
Cooper said the town applied for the funding in January and will wait to hear back from the province.
"(The proposed funding) was for approximately $700,000. We don't know how long it will take for them to make a decision," said Cooper.
The funding is expected to provide about 23 light standards in total - 15 along Highway 42 and eight along Waskasoo Avenue.
Cooper noted there was a need for additional lighting along Highway 42 and in the area.
"We have lighting going all the way through the town on Highway 2A. Highway 42 is a rather dark approach into the town," said Cooper. "It's dark all the way up to Fas Gas (at Highway 2A) so by having the (additional) lighting at Waskasoo Avenue and moving along Highway 42, it gives people who walk in that area some lighting. It's just to improve highway safety within the municipality."
Mayor Dennis Cooper
"It's just to improve highway safety within the municipality."
