Mercury
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The Tofield
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YOUR LOCAL PAPER Established in 1918 in Tofield, Alberta
Wednesday July 8, 2020 Vol. 102 Issue 45
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Ministik School nears demolition date
New manager for Victim Services
Page 2
Page 4
Farewell to CW Sears students
Page 11
834 bypass highway underway
Typical spring and early summer rains in the Beaver County area has slowed construction of the Highway 834 Bypass. The 5 km stretch of highway will link 834 east of Tofield with 834 north of the town without going through the school zone or residential neighbourhoods which the road presently does. Now underway, the construction is expected to be completed before summer 2021.
$20 million project will take HD equipment and semis away from schools and residentail Tofield KERRY ANDERSON Construction on the $20 million Highway 834 bypass around Tofield began this spring and is ongoing, expected to be completed in one year. The present construction site is east of 51 Avenue (Highway 626), as heavy duty equipment begins extending 834 east of Tofield with the portion north of
town with a 5 km extension. Previously when the oil business was booming in Alberta, Highway 834 was being used to move over 900 over-sized loads yearly as it is a designated corridor for this traffic. The difficulty being that 834 passes through Tofield, and the giant loads have been passing through residential neighbourhoods and the
school zone. In 2016 the daily traffic count on Highway 834 turning on 51 Ave in Tofield to Highway 626 which connects with 834 south, was 1,400 vehicles daily including an average of 92 semi-trailer tractors. Town Council, Beaver County Council and concerned citizens had been at-
tempting for years to have the loads rerouted around the town, finally having approval in April 2017. The project includes realigning a section of Highway 14 south of Tofield to provide a longer and safer distance for traffic to stop at the railway crossing near the intersection.