A view of the work underway on Hwy. 26 at Goodsoil. (Submitted photo/Joan Chatelaine)

By Angela Brown

Mayor concerned

Province responds to complaints about Goodsoil Highway 26 work

Aug 9, 2022 | 5:35 PM

Many Goodsoil businesses continue to be upset about the road re-construction work for Highway 26, running through the village that’s causing them to lose their summer profits.

Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison recently said in a statement to meadowlakeNOW the project experienced some challenges at the start that impeded progress.

“Work began early this summer, however, there has been exceptional rainfall in the area,” he said. “June precipitation was 250 to 300 per cent above average. Each rain event not only stops the work but requires the contractor to rework and dry the material.”

He noted the contractor and the consultant have been working with the Village of Goodsoil and local businesses to provide alternate access to try to lessen the impact on the community.

“Access has been periodically interrupted to facilitate utility relocations, which are necessary to complete the project. The Ministry of Highway’s plan is to complete the project before the end of the construction season in the fall,” Harrison said

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The project includes building a new main street/Highway through Goodsoil and creating parking areas, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

The Highway 26 project is part of the province’s $300 million stimulus program aimed at invigorating the provincial economy following the pandemic.

Village of Goodsoil Mayor Don Eckel understands the business community’s concerns that the work seems to be taking a long time to get done and is significantly hampering their revenue.

“They’re 100 per cent correct when they talk about the impact it’s having; it’s not good,” he said. “People are having trouble getting into places. They don’t know how to get into places. It wasn’t well thought out.”

He said poor communication is an issue, in his opinion.

Eckel noted two different companies are involved in the project, but one of them is not present at the site to do the work, as a concern.

“The one that is supposed to fill in the road is not here, and that’s the one that everyone is waiting for.”

The village has spoken about the issue with the province.

“But it’s gotten us nowhere. They just brush us off to the contractor or the consultants. They brush us off and tell us that they are coming. That’s all they can say,” Eckel said.

It hasn’t been easy for businesses that have the road to their front entrances torn out while the construction is underway.

“They went through two years of COVID, which was better for business than this construction is,” Eckel said. “It’s been almost three or four years since they’ve had a really good year, because [in 2019] we had the tornado that ruined campsites. Then, COVID [hit], now this. I don’t know how many are going to survive all this.”

He pointed out that asking customers to use the back alleys to access businesses is not a good solution since only village people would be familiar with these routes. Visitors driving by wouldn’t know where the businesses are located without the main road there to access.

“If you’re local, you’re all right. But if you’re not, I think you’ll have trouble finding what you’re looking for,” Eckel said.

The mayor hopes something can be done to improve the situation soon. He added he also questions how the work will be complete by the fall as the province planned the way things are going now.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW