A map showing the construction areas. (Supplied by Google Maps / Town of Coaldale)

By David Opinko

Town of Coaldale borrowing $3.1-million to rebuild 8th Street Industrial Ring Road

Jul 16, 2019 | 10:50 AM

COALDALE, AB – Construction on a major industrial road in the community should begin in the next couple of weeks.

By connecting with 11th Ave and Range Road 203, the municipality wrote in their 2019-2021 Capital Budget that it effectively becomes an “industrial ring road” around the Coaldale Industrial Park.

CAO Kalen Hastings says a major component of this is doing a complete rebuild of 8th Street.

“It’ll be converting the existing gravel structure to an asphalt road and this will be serving as one of the main entrances into the town’s northeast industrial park off of Highway 3. There’ll be a direct route from the industrial park to Secondary Highway 845.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $4-million.

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Of that, the Town has received a grant of $881,364 from the provincial government’s Strategic Transportation Initiative Program. The remaining $3,118,636 will be borrowed from the Alberta Capital Finance Authority and will be paid off over the next five years.

Hastings believes the re-constructed road will be more than worth the price tag.

“We’ve heard from a lot of businesses that’ve purchased lots there that having good access, direct access, from both highways is really important for their business operations. This is our attempt at responding to industry and to have a good industrial park, you need good access.”

Those in the area can expect to see shovels in the ground before the end of July.

The Town of Coaldale is working on determining the exact detour routes at this time, but Hastings says he has been working with local business owners and residents to figure out what the best options are.