By Stephen Dafoe
Morinville – Immediately after investing Mayor Paul Krauskopf with the chain of office Nov. 27, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec offered up an update on the delayed Cardiff Road interchange.
“The design of the interchange is complete and the project is expected to take two to three construction seasons to complete once its started,” Kubinec told Council. “To date, all lands for the project have been acquired with the exception of two parcels located in the northwest and southeast quadrants of the project for which negotiations are underway.”
The MLA said the project is ready to be advanced once those two parcels and necessary permits have been acquired. Kubinec was not able to offer a time frame, but said she was told things would begin within a year.
She has been promised quarterly updates on the project from Alberta Transportation. “As soon as I have one I will be bringing it to you,” she said. “I know this is such an incredibly important issue to you that I wanted to take the opportunity to say I’m still slugging away for you. I will work really hard to make sure this project happens as soon as possible. It is the number one issue on my list of priorities.”
The overpass, announced by Kubinec’s predecessor Ken Kowalski in the summer of 2011, was to begin construction this past spring; however, problems acquiring the two sections of land preventing the project’s commencement.
