Speakers at the press conference at Red Earth Creek (Photo submitted)
The Government of Alberta has signed an agreement with Loon River First Nation, Peerless Trout First Nation, and Bigstone Cree Nation to begin work to extend Highway 686 to Fort McMurray.
The proposed project will involve extending Highway 686 by 218 kilometres creating an east-west connection between Fort McMurray and Peerless Lake.
The current drive between the two locations is 667 kilometres, spanning almost seven hours.
The proposed extension calls for a two-lane gravel highway with construction expected to take at least five years.
“Connecting Highway 686 to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo will forever transform our region’s economy,” says Kevin Weidlich, president and CEO of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism. “This new highway will lower our supply chain costs and open up new business opportunities for local Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses.”
The extension would connect communities in northern Alberta and reduce travel times between essential services.
Members of the three First Nations groups and representatives from the Government of Alberta will establish a planning committee that will review the proposed location, consider environmental impacts, and identify other opportunities along the corridor.
Extensive consultation and an environmental assessment on the project will be completed prior to construction.
Once consultation is complete and all required approvals are in place, construction is expected to take at least five years to complete.
“This exciting project to extend Highway 686 represents an unprecedented opportunity for our Nation to realize a new economic vision and a new economic future for our people, where we are participating in the development of our region as a key player, a primary partner in all decisions, and a meaningful beneficiary from the growth and development that happens in our territories.”
“The members of Peerless Trout First Nation want to ensure that the lands, wildlife and pristine waters of our territory remain protected, and they also want to see our Nation building up a thriving local economy and a more prosperous future. This announcement empowers our Nation on both fronts – with a seat at a table to ensure that our environment is protected while ensuring that our Nation can capture all the benefits of a major new economic corridor.”
“Bigstone Cree Nation is ready to take the next step in our journey towards economic reconciliation, and our new framework agreement with the Government of Alberta positions us to do exactly that. Our Nation looks forward to assuming a seat at the table as partners with our neighbours and with the province, and leveraging United Northern Developments as a key vehicle to drive our future activities and success related to this major new corridor.”
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