Governments celebrate grand opening of 32nd street bridge in Okotoks

November 29, 2010

Okotoks, Alberta – The Town of Okotoks celebrated the grand opening of the new 32nd Street Bridge, which will provide residents with a second road crossing in the Okotoks and Municipal District of Foothills region. Ted Menzies, MP for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, George Groeneveld, MLA for Highwood, and Bill Robertson, Mayor of Okotoks, were on hand to share in the celebration.

“I’m pleased to be here to celebrate the grand opening of the 32nd Street Bridge,” said MP Menzies, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport). “Making our roads safer for residents and visitors is a priority for this government.  Important infrastructure investments such as this help to create jobs, boost our economy, and build strong, sustainable communities now and into the future.”

“This bridge is a great example of our government’s ongoing commitment to municipalities,” said George Groeneveld, MLA for Highwood. “The 32nd Street corridor is a key transportation link and truck route and is essential to development and job creation in the region. Also, having a second river crossing will contribute to public safety by improving the response time and reliability of emergency services.”

Construction began in 2009 on the 32nd Street alignment over Sheep River. Upgrades included the construction of a two-lane roadway, a road bridge and a Canadian Pacific Railway-grade separated crossing. This project will benefit residents in the area, providing a critical second road crossing over the river.

“Okotoks has remained one of the fastest growing communities in Canada over the past decade and the 32nd Street bridge is necessary to serve the current and future needs of Okotoks and area residents,” said Mayor Robertson.

The governments of Canada and Alberta each provided $11 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.  The Town of Okotoks provided the remaining $11 million, toward a total eligible project cost of $33 million. The $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects.

Since the launch of the Economic Action Plan, on January 27, 2009, $10.7 billion has been committed through Infrastructure Canada’s programs toward approximately 6,200 projects.  Along with contributions from other partners such as provinces, territories and municipalities, this represents a total investment of over $30 billion.

The Government of Alberta has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and ensuring that our province's industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.