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County plans to upgrade roads including streets in hamlets

Several more roads are to be upgraded in the County of Stettler thanks to both federal and provincial funding.

At its regular meeting May 12, county council designated federal funding to upgrade Range Road 19-5 as council plans to chip-seal the entire road while intersections will be paved with asphalt at a total cost of $660,691.50.

“This is expected to create a more streamlined traffic flow through the west side of the Town of Stettler,” said Reeve Earl Marshall.

The county received a Building Canada grant in 2009 for the paving and hard-surfacing of the resource road that would provide a trucking route around Stettler.

This grant was funded one third each by the federal government, the provincial government and by the County of Stettler.

The project was approved for $3.11 million, but came in under budget, with the entire Resource Road only costing about $2,362,310.41.

Rather than relinquish the remaining portion, the county asked and were approved for extending the scope of the project to include the improving of adjacent roads to the resource road.

Gravel tenders

Council awarded a tender to supply 165,000 tonnes of crushed gravel for three years to Hand Hills Holdings Inc. in the amount of $1,320,000 plus the federal goods and services tax, the best of four bids.

“When you factor in the travelling/hauling costs estimated at 25 cents per mile, the gravel form Hand Hills Holdings Inc. is more economical,” said Ron Bannister, director of infrastructure and operations.

The contract calls for 165,000 tonnes of gravel, crushed to the county’s specifications over the next three years. This amount of gravel will work toward the county having 10 years of gravel in reserve in order to meet the 25-year gravel plan.

Fenn resources road

Fenn Road will soon be upgraded after the county was allocated up to $1,874,300 under the provincial Resource Road Program, funding of 50 per cent of the eligible project costs.

This amount is higher than the usual maximum of $1.5 million, said Fox.

“However in the 2010 county budget, the amount of $1.5 milion was used, we are still projecting that this project can be done within the $3 million scope.”

Streets Improvement Program

A grant of $28,860 has been authorized to the county under the provincial Streets Improvement Program to upgrade roads in hamlets.