Businesses against realignment
Opinion
Posted 1 month ago
Josh Chalmers Special to the Standard - Over 60 people showed up to the Strathmore Town Council meeting on the night of July 7 to show their concern over the proposed realignment of Highway 1.
|
|
Josh Chalmers
Special to the Standard
Strathmore businesses are not happy about the proposed realignment of Highway 1 and they packed council chambers at the July 7 meeting to show their disapproval.
The realignment of Highway 1 to bypass Strathmore has become the community's newest hot button topic as evidenced by the more than 60 people who showed up to the town council meeting. A presentation from Hal Lust, owner of Strathmore Motor Products, was on the agenda for council's regularly scheduled meeting and Lust made sure that he got his supporters out, through advertising and word of mouth.
Lust said that 85 businesses were based on the highway and that they employed 1,500 people on a full or part-time basis. He projected that the highway businesses injected $2.8 million into the local economy each month, based on a $12 per hour wage at 30 hours per week.
"The plan to move the highway over the next 10-15 years by the provincial government will destroy a large part of our local economy," said Lust to begin his presentation.
Lust continued that similar realignment in Brooks and Vegreville "led to the devastation of highway commercial in both those communities."
Lust similarly pointed to the twinning of the highway through Strathmore in the 1980s. During that time several exists were closed for a period of three months, which Lust said was devastating for businesses, until a concerted effort by concerned citizens and businesses convinced the provincial government to reopen them.
Lust said that the bypassing of Strathmore would provide a similar effect to the businesses, due to the distance from the highway.
"The sign that says gas or food or vacancy is a magnet to the weary traveller, especially when those signs come 40 k.m. from a large city," said Lust.
Many council members shared the concerns of the businesses. However, councillor Bob Sobol did say that there would be concerns with upgrading the highway through Strathmore.
"I'm not crazy about a highway going through town, I lived in Airdrie. I don't like the noise that a highway at 110 or 120 makes in the middle of your town," said Sobol.
Sobol continued that the bypass would have to be closer than what is currently being considered.
"They can't shut us off," said Sobol. "They have to give the motoring public an option to come into town."
Lust mentioned during the meeting that he was putting together a group to get the message out. Marcy Field of the Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce said that Lust, who is a chamber member, has approached them about being involved in the group.
"The chamber has a web presence and communication resources available to assist in actions being undertaken for interested stakeholders," said Field. "The chamber is strengthened through the active participation of its membership."
While not coming out against the realignment Field said that the issue is of the utmost importance.
"Location is important to the vibrancy and success of any business," said Field. "The current proposed realignment of Highway 1 dramatically impacts the Town of Strathmore and the business community both inside and outside of the town limits. Changing access and visual awareness of the town, the businesses and services available here would change the dynamics of our growing community. It would also significantly change the landscape of the agricultural community that supports those businesses."
The chamber's website, www.strathmoredistrictchamber.com, has a link to the Alberta Government's Highway 1 alignment and area network planning study.
Lust is planning another presentation at the next Wheatland County Council meeting on Tuesday, July 20. For more information he can be contacted at Strathmore Motor Products at 403-934-3334.
Council said that they have no control over the realignment and concerns should be directed to Alberta's transportation minister Luke Oullette, or Strathmore-Brooks MLA Arno Doerksen.
Letters were the recommended form of contact. Doerksen can be contacted by e-mail at Strathmore.brooks@assembly.ab.ca while Oullette can be contacted at Transportation.Minister@gov.ab.ca.
- The Standard is also interested in your opinion about these proposed changes to the area. Please call us at 403-934-3021 if you would like to share your thoughts with the community.
