General Governance

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

TRANSPORTATION

The Transportation Department maintains almost 2,400 km of M.D.-owned roadways throughout the municipality. From snowplowing to pothole patching, construction and drainage, this department makes sure residents and visitors can move around the M.D. on well cared for roadways and bridges.

UTILITIES

The Utilities Department maintains and operates the M.D.’s water and sewer systems in Fort Kent and Ardmore, and the sewage lagoon system in Therien.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Infrastructure Department is responsible for the maintenance of all equipment and upkeep of M.D. buildings including the Main Administration Office, Public Works Shop, the chalet at Kinosoo Ridge, and more.

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

With the introduction of the drainage priority map, road priority map, and road classification map, the Transportation Department has had clear direction on projects. Several drainage projects, mitigating flooding in rural subdivisions, have been completed. This past winter saw an immense amount of snow dropped on our area, and the staff in Transportation were kept remarkably busy keeping roadways clear and finding novel places to put snow piles to ensure spring melt wouldn’t negatively affect any infrastructure. The Utilities Department saw the commissioning of the new regional waterline running from Cold Lake and providing water to the Town of Bonnyville. Repairs to the liner at the Fort Kent Lagoon have been completed. Infrastructure completed fit and finish on the Fort Kent Fire Hall and Ardmore Fire Hall and Grader Shop. The fire halls have been handed over to the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority. Renovations at the Main Office were completed, finishing off the third floor.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

This year, Transportation's focus is on finishing projects that have been on the books for some time. In the first four months, the department has overseen the completion of the Thin Lake River Bridge Replacement Project. Spring melt meant crews were out in full force steaming culverts in attempt to mitigate any flooding and allowing drainage courses to efficiently move excess water, avoiding damage to municipal infrastructure (roads) and ratepayers’ property. In Utilities, the pumps at the Ardmore and Fort Kent water stations will be replaced, allowing for a consistent level of service, while avoiding shutdowns at the bulk water fill stations due to aging equipment. Infrastructure will continue with its maintenance of M.D. buildings and will assist with renovations at Kinosoo Ridge.

WHERE WE’RE GOING

With future planning documents guiding the department, Transportation will continue to focus on the maintenance and construction of roads, replacement of bridges, and drainage improvements throughout the municipality. You can find the drainage priority map, road classification map, and other road project maps in the pages following this. There is also a chart showing the proposed projects scheduled all the way to 2025. Utilities will continue the maintenance and operation of the water and sewer systems, offering our residents and ratepayers seamless, efficient, and topnotch service.