[Jets4Life]

Just wondering what's the status of the twinning of Hwy # 63 from Fort McMurray to Edmonton(?). That highway needs to be twinned, as it is arguably the most dangerous highway stretch in all of Canada. Oilfield workers frequently use that highway as it is the main route from Edmonton to Ft McMurray, and due to the heavy traffic, and large trucks that routinely use the highway, it would be in everyone's best interest to twin it ASAP.

[You Need A Thneed]

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/projects/northeast.aspx

[feepa]

Twinned section of 63 open for driving

Posted 18 days ago





By ROLAND CILLIERS
Today staff

Drivers now have some extra space when heading south from Fort McMurray.
The first 13 kilometres of new lanes on Highway 63 between Highway 69 and north of Highway 881 were opened Monday.
An additional three kilometres of newly twinned Highway 63 near Highway 881 is scheduled for completion in close to three weeks.
Heather McLachlan of Alberta Transportation said all the construction is designed to improve safety for drivers traveling along Highway 63.
“When you twin a highway, you basically eliminate head-on collisions, which are one of the main causes of fatalities,” said McLachlan. “One thing to note, though: twinning the highway doesn’t eliminate all collisions. In fact, about 90 per cent of collisions are attributed to driver error.”
The completion of this part of the highway’s twinning marks the end of the majority of road construction in the area.
“This project itself is completing at the end of the fall here. We’ll now be looking at tree clearing, and that will be around the Mariana Lakes area,” said McLachlan.
Lonny Quinney, project superintendent for the twinning, said the local climate has made it difficult for construction workers.





“It was a challenge with the weather and the ground conditions, an extreme challenge,” said Quinney.
Drivers are asked to slow down and to pay particular caution in the construction area. Quinney has himself seen many dangerous driving behaviours while working on 63.
“(Drivers need to) just show some respect for themselves and the workers and the other traveling public,” said Quinney.


http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1257541

[feepa]

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType181/production/ProvincialHighways2008-2011.pdf

[itom 987]

I'm looking forward to seeing maps of Alberta showing the twinned highway.

[rapid_business]

...as it is arguably the most dangerous highway stretch in all of Canada.

I agree that it needs to be twined, but having driven it several times, I'd say fault often lies with the jackasses who drive 160+ in the winter because they think they're supped-up duelly is synonymous with 'tank'
and 'invisible bubble'.