Alberta invests $14 million in Ray Gibbon Drive

The Alberta government is making an investment in a key local road by reimbursing $14 million to the City of St. Albert. The funding covers added expenses the city took on to upgrade Ray Gibbon Drive to provincial standards and purchase right-of-way for a future provincial freeway.

“This is about investing in our future highway network and protecting the right-of-way for future growth,” said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation. “During the construction of Ray Gibbon Drive, the province committed to reimbursing the City of St. Albert for these added costs and the province is following through on that commitment.”

The City of St. Albert constructed stages one and two of Ray Gibbon Drive as a two-lane urban municipal roadway from the Anthony Henday Drive alignment to Giroux Road.

“This roadway is a major connection for many motorists travelling to and from St. Albert, providing both residential and economic development benefits,” said St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse. “We are extremely pleased to receive this funding as part of approximately one-third of the total commitment toward ongoing development for what will eventually be an important roadway connecting to the north.

“Ray Gibbon Drive provides an important municipal access for St. Albert and thanks to Alberta’s investment, this roadway will be part of our provincial highway network plan to meet future growth,” said Ken Allred, MLA for St. Albert.

Plans call for Ray Gibbon Drive from Anthony Henday Drive to Highway 633 to form part of the future Highway 2 alignment. The City of St. Albert will also be reimbursed for the incremental cost to build the third stage of Ray Gibbon Drive from Giroux Road to Highway 633 to accommodate provincial freeway standards, after construction is completed and funding becomes available.