Fort McMurray-Grande Prairie highway should be priority for 2023: local political, business leaders

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Pursuing Highway 686 should be a major priority for the Alberta government in 2023, argue Fort McMurray’s business and political leadership.

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The east-to-west highway project is designed to connect Fort McMurray and the Grande Prairie region. Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development, predicts the highway will one day be dubbed “the oilsands to Pacific corridor.”

“Two communities won’t be seen as the end of the road anymore,” said Jean. “Imagine what that will do for jobs, agriculture, tourism, natural resources and the overall economy of northern Alberta.”

The project was included in mandate letters from Premier Danielle Smith to Jean and Transportation Minister Deven Dreeshen this past November. 

Completed Highway 686 segments include 89 kilometres between Red Earth Creek and Trout Lake, and two kilometres of the Parsons Access Road. The plan is to build a 218-kilometre corridor to Highway 88 at Red Earth Creek. This would connect Fort McMurray to Grande Prairie, which already connects to B.C., the Yukon and Alaska.

The project is years away from construction, if it happens. No timeline or funding has been made for the project, although the final bill won’t be cheap. The route require building through remote sections of the boreal forest packed with wetlands, muskeg and rivers.

The Alberta government also needs to begin consultation work with municipalities, landowners, and First Nation and Métis communities; complete environmental and engineering assessments; and approve a design. The design would also need to pass an assessment for all highway projects longer than 75 kilometres.

A 2009 report from Stantec to the Alberta government recommended completing Highway 686 as a response to the booming population and oilsands developments seen at the time in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo and the Grande Prairie region.

Interest wained when global oil prices crashed in late 2014. But since the 2016 Horse River Wildfire, Highway 686 has been suggested as an alternative to the proposed East Clearwater Highway.

Mayor Sandy Bowman said he hopes to see some consultation work or long-term planning for Highway 686 begin in 2023, as does Kevin Weidlich, president of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism (FMWBEDT).

“I think 2023 is the opportunity to get more than just some orders, but some actual action done,” said Weidlich. “We’re at the end of a very long highway so we feel even the smallest impacts on the supply chain, whether it be for food, consumer goods or construction materials.”

Laila Goodridge, Conservative MP for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, said the highway would be invaluable for the local, provincial and national economy if it’s completed.

“That’s going to be such a great opportunity for our region and all of northern Alberta,” she said. “It shows the provincial government sees the value in northern Alberta.”

Jean said the project’s priority and his portfolio shows the Alberta government understands the north’s potential. Ontario has a Minister of Northern Development, Jean pointed out, while Liberal and Conservative governments have long held federal northern affairs ministries.

Alberta last had a northern development minister from 2001 to 2006, which was held by former PC MLA Pearl Calahasen.

“It’s an acknowledgement that plenty of resources are in the north, but the future is in northern development and not just in resources,” said Jean. “There’s investments in indigenous communities, improving infrastructure and transportation that needs to be done.”

vmcdermott@postmedia.com