Deerfoot delayed at least six weeks
By
Darlene Casten
Staff Reporter
By John Barlow
Editor
Completion of the Deerfoot Trail Extension has been delayed by more
than a month.
Initially, the massive highway project was to be completed by Oct.
15, however, Alberta Infrastructure announced last week the extension
will not be opened until late November.
Les Hempsey, project director for the east/west trade corridor, said
the reasons for the delay are varied.
However, Hempsey admitted having to move the paving crew to Highway
1 and Highway 22 were major contributors to the delay.
“Essentially, the high volume paving plant ran out of work (on
the Deerfoot Trail Extension) so it was moved over to the TransCanada
Highway west of Calgary,” he explained.
He said the paving plant would have only been working half days on
the extension project as crews waited for other facets of the Deerfoot
Trail project to be completed.
As a result, the paving crew was moved to complete two other highway
projects.
The paving plant is expected to be back on the job on Deerfoot Trail
after the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Although the paving crew will be back at work next week, the delay
has frustrated many local residents who have been eagerly anticipating
the opening of the Deerfoot Trail Extension.
Commuters are especially looking forward to a drastically reduced
drive time to Calgary and home as the extension should relief traffic
congestion on MacLeod Trail.
Also, residents in the Okotoks region question why the paving crew
was moved elsewhere and not kept here to complete the project on time.
“They only had half-a-mile left,” said one resident who
was questioned.
Another responded, “Alberta Transportation only has one paving
crew?”
Hempsey said each paving plant is required to log a certain amount
of work each summer and had the crew been left on Deerfoot it would
not have met its quota.
“We couldn’t just leave the crew sitting there and waiting,”
said Hempsey.
Once the crew is back in place, Hempsey said he estimates the paving
will be completed in 16 days. once the paving is completed cosmetic
work such as line painting, guard rails and fences will be completed.
He added that cool October and November weather should not be a factor
on the progress.
But he said, the work will be done.
“Darn right,” said Hempsey when asked if he would be happy
when the project is completed. “It is giving me grey hairs.”
|
|
King
of the Castle
Jesse Taylor, 6, works with some
blocks during the family treasure hunt at the Okotoks Recreation
Centre on Monday night.
photo by John Barlow |
Optimism surrounds Learning Commission report
By John Barlow
Editor
Members of the local school divisions and the Alberta
Teacher’s Association are awaiting Tuesday’s recommendations
from Alberta’s Commission on Learning with guarded optimism.
On Tuesday the commission was scheduled to release its report on
the status of education in the province. The report was to also
include numerous recommendations regarding such issues as class
size and funding.
Last week Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, who has been briefed on the
report, said school boards and the Alberta Teacher’s Association
(ATA) will be pleased with the results of the report.
So far, Foothills School Division board chairman Jerry Muelaner
likes what he has heard through the grapevine.
“Everything that Premier Klein has said so far is reason for
optimism,” said Muelaner. “I have heard $500 million
over three years (in funding for education) and lots of other options.”
Muelaner said he believes the provincial government will act on
the recommendations of the Learning Commission.
“There are a lot of cynics out there saying this will not
be taken seriously, but I think this report will be taken very seriously,”
said Muelaner.
The ATA is also hoping the province heeds the advice of the commission.
“We hope the commission will set a positive direction for
education in Alberta,” said Frank Bruseker, president of the
ATA. “We are eager to work with Alberta Learning to implement
those recommendations that will improve the learning conditions
for students and teachers.”
Alberta’s Learning Commission was formed in the spring of
2002 during a province-wide labor dispute involving teachers, the
province and more than 20 school districts.
In February 2002, more than 21,000 teachers left the classroom in
22 school districts in protest over classroom conditions, salary
and funding.
When the province’s attempt to implement back-to-work orders
was overturned by the courts, the Learning Commission was formed
to investigate various issues impacting education in Alberta.
“From the beginning, our focus has been on students, on the
classroom and on teachers,” said Bruseker.
“When Alberta teachers first called on the premier to establish
a learning commission we did so firm in the conviction that any
fair-minded investigation would validate our deeply held concerns
about classroom conditions and bring about real improvements.”
Muelaner agreed with Bruseker saying the conditions in the classroom
such as overcrowding need to be addressed by the provincial government.
“I could easily say some changes are overdue,” said
Muelaner. “I was not acutely aware of some of the classroom
conditions until teachers brought them to my attention.”
Although Muelaner said he is pleased classroom conditions will be
addressed he said the key for the school division is funding to
new schools and renovations to existing facilities.
“Just give us $8 million and we will solve our problems,”
said Muelaner. “I am overjoyed to hear classes will be addressed,
but unless they build the buildings it will be moot.
“Okotoks is full everywhere. What do we do? Start shipping
students to Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Cayley?” he added.
“We need more space.”
Alberta’s Learning Commission’s report was released
on Tuesday afternoon.
| |
In this issue...
|
| |
|
BISONS SWEEP
Junior Bs win weekend set
See Sports
PEDOPHILES
Expert says process needs changes
See News
ON FIRE
Fire prevention supplement
See News
|
|
|
