Alberta Transportation agrees intersection near Alix is a concern

Alix village council heard from their MLA that Alberta Transportation agrees an intersection near the village appears to have some safety problems. 

The letter from Minister of Culture and Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr was read at the Jan. 5 regular meeting of council.

Alix council had previously heard concerns from local resident Chelsie Giesbrecht about safety concerns with the intersection of Hwy. 12, which runs east-west, and Sec. Hwy. 601, which runs north-south, and which is located right on the east side of the village boundary.

Apparently, Alberta Transportation agreed with Giesbrecht. According to Orr’s letter, “Highway safety is a top priority for Alberta Transportation and Minister Rajan Sawhney confirmed that the department has completed a thorough review of the intersection. 

The review identified there is a trend in failures to stop in both the Sec. Hwy. 601 northbound and southbound lanes, despite the presence of large stop signs with flashing beacons and rumble strips.

“Specifically, Alberta Transportation plans to increase the size of the stop signs on Sec. Hwy. 601 on either side of the intersection with Hwy. 12, mark ‘STOP’ on the pavement on 601 on either side of the intersection with Hwy. 12 and initiate the speed (limit) reduction… for the south leg of 601 approaching the intersection. 

These changes will be completed as soon as is practical; however, because winter weather is approaching, some of this work may need to be completed in spring, 2022,” added Orr.

In a statement to the ECA Review Jan. 10 Alberta Transportation stated driver error appears to be the major factor at that intersection. 

“Police investigations determined seven collisions at the intersection of Hwys. 12 and 601 between 2015 and 2021 were because a driver didn’t stop at the stop sign, or proceeded in an unsafe manner,” stated Rob Williams, press secretary, Minister of Transportation, in an email.

In an interview Jan. 10 Giesbrecht stated she’d been contacted by Alberta Transportation and it was nice to hear that they agreed with her observation. 

“Yes, they did say they agreed there was a concern,” she said.

She noted Transportation explained the upcoming changes to that intersection and added the government is going to continue to monitor that spot. 

Giesbrecht stated it was nice to hear the intersection is getting some changes. “I think they are positive and a step in the right direction,” said Giesbrecht.

“I definitely do think it’s going to make some changes. Hopefully it does reduce the accidents we have there.”

A resident of Alix for 15 years Giesbrecht says collisions and near misses are common at that intersection, and she and her children passed through there recently only minutes after a fatal collision occurred. She had to explain to her kids what happened.

At the council meeting Mayor Rob Fehr stated he was impressed how quickly this was addressed by the provincial government. 

“I didn’t expect any response…until at least spring,” added Fehr.

 

Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

ECA Review