Smoky Lake County, Town and School Board Officials Lobby for Improved Safety on Highway 28

Smoky Lake County, Town and School Board Officials Lobby for Improved Safety on Highway 28

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

For the past six years the County of Smoky Lake has been lobbying Alberta Transportation to have the speed limit reduced from 100 km/hr to 80 km/hr and safety hazards addressed at all of the intersections along the section of Highway 28 going past the Town of Smoky Lake.

The request has fallen on deaf ears to date, but Reeve Lorne Halisky hopes that by having the Town of Smoky Lake as well as Aspen View Public Schools sign a joint letter to the Ministry of Transportation it will make officials reconsider their position.

Halisky said Alberta Transportation had previously stated that traffic volume doesn’t warrant such changes, but he argues that increased traffic, especially wide and heavy loads heading to Lac La Biche, Bonnyville and Cold Lake over the past year has risen substantially. That, coupled with the upcoming opening of the new H.A. Kostash School this September, he believes necessitates action by the province.

There are five intersections along the stretch of Highway 28, approximately 1.5 kilometres, where they want safety hazards addressed, much like the adjustments made along Waskatenau and Ashmont.

The letter also states, “The stretch of Highway 28 that intersects with Highway 855 creates a particular challenge when crossing or turning due to the curve, majorly reducing the visibility of oncoming, high velocity traffic.”

Highway 855 facing south towards the new H.A. Kostash School in Smoky Lake.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Smoky Lake Mayor Amy Cherniwchan said, “Safety in and around our town is of upmost importance to us and the speed reduction at the HWY 28 and Secondary HWY 855 intersection would be a reflection of that.

These speed reductions are common along HWY 28 for good reason and why this intersection is considered less important is beyond me. Let’s hope we can make enough noise to be heard and the speed reduction is put in place.”

School Board Chair Candyce Nikipelo stated in the division’s letter that, “Aspen View and the Smoky Lake community are very excited to open the new H.A. Kostash School in early 2023. While the new school will undoubtedly be a valuable community asset for generations to come, we acknowledge that its location, approximately 300 m south of the Highway 28/855 intersection, has the potential to significantly increase traffic at this intersection, which is already precarious due to its placement on a sharp curve with limited sightlines.

The arrival and departure of multiple school buses and student/parent vehicles at peak times before and after school, combined with the regular flow of both local and through traffic on Highways 28 and 855, may cause added congestion and safety concerns. We agree with our municipal partners that a reduction of the speed limit on Highway 28 adjacent to the Town of Smoky Lake, to 80 km/h, would be a reasonable and easily facilitated change that would enhance the safety of the motoring public, similar to the speed changes made along Highway 28 at Waskatenau and Ashmont.

We further agree that the Highway 28/855 intersection should continue to be closely monitored, particularly once the new H.A. Kostash School becomes operational, to determine if additional improvements such as turning/passing lanes ought to be considered.”

Jesse Furber, Press Secretary to the Minister of Alberta Transportation, said, “With respect to setting speed limits on provincial highways, the department of Transportation and Economic Corridors sets speed limits based on several factors, including: the number and severity of hills and curves along the highway, the number of accesses onto the highway, the amount and proximity of development adjacent to the highway, the collision history, and the expected level of compliance.

The speed limit on a provincial highway isn’t typically reduced unless an evaluation of the factors indicates lowering the speed limit is necessary. If speed limits are set lower than what the majority of drivers consider reasonable, there is a higher likelihood of non-compliance, which can increase the risk of collisions due to some drivers travelling much faster than others.”

Furber noted that, “The review of the speed limit on Hwy 28 near Smoky Lake was completed last year; the full results of which will be shared soon with the County of Smoky Lake.”