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Cross that bridge later

After learning about the price tag that comes along with building utility capabilities under the new Athabasca River bridge, both Athabasca County and Town of Athabasca councillors held off on decisions.
Alberta Transportation is asking local municipalities to pay for utility capabilities across the new Highway 813 bridge across the Athabasca River, and for a portion of the
Alberta Transportation is asking local municipalities to pay for utility capabilities across the new Highway 813 bridge across the Athabasca River, and for a portion of the sidewalk installation.

After learning about the price tag that comes along with building utility capabilities under the new Athabasca River bridge, both Athabasca County and Town of Athabasca councillors held off on decisions.

Both town and county councils received a letter from Alberta Transportation that included how much the municipalities would have to pay if they wanted utilities – such as water lines – to be able to run across the bridge. The letter also stated the province wanted the municipalities to help with sidewalk costs, as well.

Athabasca County manager Ryan Maier updated county council at their meeting June 13, saying it would be a $800,000 cost to install utility capabilities on the new Highway 813 bridge, which would run over the Athabasca River in the town.

“My suggestion would be that we draw the conclusion maybe putting utilities across the bridge is not our best option, and we advise Alberta Transportation we have decided not to proceed with the design of posting utilities on the new bridge,” Maier said. “This would be our decision; the town can do what they want.”

According to the June 13 county council agenda package, the bridge construction will proceed with a sidewalk included in the design. Alberta Transportation has asked for support in providing some level of cost share funding for the sidewalk.

Maier added the county needs to let Alberta Transportation know whether to proceed with a design that includes utilities by June 30.

Coun. Warren Griffin said he agrees with Maier’s recommendation because of the cost, but that he is not happy about it.

“You’ve got the golf course there. You’ve got development already there, and I see possibly light industrial development in the future,” he said. “It’s too bad, if anything I’d like to see the water go across … At that type of cost, it’s probably not feasible.”

The item was tabled until later in the meeting, after council addressed the new bridge project in camera. After coming out of camera, Coun. Larry Armfelt made the motion to “keep communication open with Alberta Transportation about the new bridge” which was unanimously passed.

Later, Maier said that motion did not relate to the installation of utilities.

After being in-camera, Maier picked up the utilities conversation again and reminded council they need to decide by the end of June.

“I think we have to design it to handle utilities at a future date. If that’s confirming we’re going to be losing money at a future date, well, I guess so but we can’t build that bridge without accommodating utilities on there. I don’t think that would be smart,” Armfelt said.

Coun. Christine Bilsky said if the utilities are not required for another five to 10 years, technology may have advanced to be cheaper and better by that point.

“I can’t see into the future to know, so I don’t know. I know we have to think about it but I don’t know if putting it on the bridge is the best thing,” she said.

Coun. Kevin Haines pointed out that county council did not know the Town of Athabasca council’s position on the subject, “and they’re the ones that have the golf course and other things over there already.”

Reeve Doris Splane noted a county council meeting is set for June 29, so a decision could be made at that point.

Coun. Warren Griffin made the motion to table to decision until the next meeting. The motion was passed unanimously.

Bridge utilities were on the agenda for town council’s June 6 meeting as well.

Coun. Tim Verhaeghe pointed out that Athabasca County received this notice, but he was also wondering if other municipalities who may benefit from utilities being run across the bridge – such as Calling Lake or the Municipal District of Opportunity – had received the letter.

He also questioned whether it was typical for a municipality to incur some of the costs of the design of the bridge. The town’s interim chief administrative officer Doug Topinka said it was.

Coun. Tanu Evans questioned the need for a sidewalk on the bridge, and he objected to the fact that the province was asking municipalities to cover some of the costs of the sidewalk.

“There is no sidewalk going up to that bridge,” he said. “There’s nothing really on the other side of that bridge that’s really accessible to walk to, unless you’re planning on taking your bottles back in a backpack. Further to that, there’s no sidewalk on the other side of the bridge, either.”

Topinka said the discussion regarding the sidewalk had been ongoing for years. He said the town asked for the sidewalk in the first place.

“Actually, those discussions started years ago,” he said. “The sidewalk was at the request of the town.”

Topinka also pointed out that this would not put utilities on the bridge; this extra cash would ensure the bridge was built so it could handle utility lines.

“This bridge – you’re looking at 50, 75 years in the future,” he said.

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