This week, there were rumblings that the provincial government is looking to replace the iconic Athabasca bridge.
But there’s another very interesting story tied in with that – the location of Highway 2.
As mentioned in the story on Pages 4 and 11, a representative from the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce stopped at the Athabasca County council meeting last week, suggesting they lobby the province to build a highway bypass through Colinton. The representative said she had met with Mayor Roger Morrill to discuss the same thing.
Additionally, a planning study that explored over 30 alternative routes directing heavy traffic away from downtown Athabasca lists two plans to reroute Highway 2 towards Colinton, and across a new bridge over the Tawatinaw River.
From the perspective of a downtown Athabasca business, this rerouting does not make sense.
While it would be nice to have fewer 18-wheeler trucks rumbling down our main streets, the town is positioning itself to be a true hub for those heading to and from northern Alberta.
There have been investments in hotels and restaurants, drawing those rolling along our existing highways. It’s likely that this pattern of building traveller-friendly services will continue.
Why make those investments if the highway will no longer bring drivers into our community?
Moreover, the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization, rather than a government body democratically elected by an entire community. It has its own business interests in mind, in drawing and keeping people in that city – it would be wise to remember that when its representatives are given a platform to influence what development happens in our region.
It may end up being that a bypass through Colinton is, ultimately, the route of least resistance and most opportunity for the lowest cost.
And so, let’s keep the discussion and decision-making open to the people and not behind closed doors – especially if local industry and livelihoods are at stake.
