FMCA_2017-1_P2

It was only a year ago that northeastern Alberta was engulfed by a wildfire of historic proportions. From early May to mid-June 2016, the Government of Alberta Ministry of Transportation was an integral part of the provincial government’s response efforts. More than 100 ministry staff members were directly engaged in response activities. The ministry’s management of the highway network was crucial to the safe movement of people and goods from the initial evacuations to the re-entry. We created response strategies to manage the use of highways in the area to accommodate evacuations and eventually strategies to prepare for and manage re-entry. Opening all four lanes of Highway 63 to traffic was a major milestone that enhanced highway safety and efficiency. Recently, our government officially named the King’s Street overpass at Highway 63 “Responders Way” to honour the hard work of all emergency responders during the wildfire and evacuation. Between the economy, wildfires and challenging weather, people and businesses in Wood Buffalo faced more than their fair share of challenges in 2016. Looking ahead, Alberta’s economy is on the road to recovery and is expected to expand in 2017, with real GDP forecast to increase by 2.6 per cent — the highest such forecast in Canada. brianmason Message from the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation

Rebuilding Fort McMurray is helping to lead that growth, proving that Albertans have a resilience that should never be underestimated. The promise of spring brings with it a sense of renewal, perhaps more so in Fort McMurray than other places. We can look to renewal of the forest, renewed economic activity, a renewed optimism and, as minister of both infrastructure and transportation, a renewed construction season. On the horizon, we continue to make progress on construction of the three new schools that were impacted by the fire. We look forward to celebrating with students and communities at the school openings, expected this September and January. You can expect to see crews on Highway 63 again this summer applying second stage pavement to the newly twinned sections of the highway. North of Fort McMurray, crews will also continue work on the new truck staging area near Supertest Hill to support future economic growth while reducing congestion and enhancing safety. These are just a few of the ways the Alberta Government is helping to rebuild Fort McMurray.

Brian Mason Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation

Fort McMurray Construction Association 16