To view the drawings, you can either click on the image, or the link below.

View Drawings here

March 31, 2026 – Public Open House

Westlock County hosted a public open house at the Half Moon Lake Community Hall to share information about the project and gather feedback from residents.

• 41 attendees signed in
• Total attendance estimated at over 65 individuals
• Strong participation and engagement from the community

What We Heard

Residents shared a range of questions and comments. The main themes included:

• Road design and construction
• Road width and traffic capacity
• Intersection improvements (Highway 18 & RR240)
• Traffic and safety
• Construction impacts
• Noise and community impacts
• Route selection and alternatives
• Environmental considerations

Frequently Asked Questions 

What will the road look like once it is rebuilt?

The road is planned as a paved rural road with two travel lanes, shoulders, drainage ditches, and a rebuilt road base underneath.

Will the road be paved?
Yes, the current design includes digging out up to about 0.6 meters of material below the road and replacing it in layers with proper compaction. That is being done so the road has a solid foundation underneath it, not just a better surface on top. Some imported clay fill may also be needed in lower areas to bring the road up to the required height.

What type of asphalt will be used?
The road is planned to be paved with hot-mix asphalt.

Will the ground under the road need to be dug out and rebuilt?
The current design includes digging out up to about 0.6 meters of material below the road and replacing it in layers with proper compaction. Some imported clay fill may also be needed in lower areas to bring the road up to the required height.

Will the road be widened?
Yes. The typical section includes approximately 8 meters of paved width (two lanes).

For more details, refer to the typical road cross-section below

Were future traffic considered?
Yes, future traffic volumes have been accounted for in the design, not just current traffic conditions. The road and the intersection have been designed accordingly so they can better accommodate expected traffic over time. The traffic review in the engineering work looked at future conditions over a long-term planning horizon, and that information has been used in the design.

What is planned for the Highway 18 and RR240 intersection?
The current design includes improvements to the Highway 18 and RR240 intersection so turning movements can be handled more safely and more efficiently. Based on the engineering review, the proposed layout is a Type IIIb intersection treatment. In practical terms, that means added turning space and a more formal intersection layout than what exists today.

For more details, refer to the intersection layout drawing below

Will visibility over hills improve?
Visibility and road safety have been accounted for in the design. The road profile has been designed using standard engineering guidelines, and where possible the design works to improve how the road carries over hills and low spots. That said, a road like this still has to work with the existing terrain, so not every high or low point can simply be flattened out. The main point is that sightlines and vertical alignment have been reviewed and designed accordingly.

Will local traffic be allowed during construction?
There may be temporary delays, restrictions, or traffic control at times, but the intent would be to manage access rather than simply shut the road off without a plan. More detailed information on how traffic would be handled would come closer to construction.

Will land acquisition be required?
No. The current design has been laid out within the existing road right-of-way, so no additional land is required for the road improvements.

How will noise and dust be reduced?
One of the ways noise and dust are being reduced is by paving the road with asphalt instead of leaving it as a gravel surface. Paving helps control dust and provides a smoother driving surface. Concerns were also raised about engine braking, and those have been noted. Appropriate signage would be installed as part of the project.

Were other routes considered?
Yes. Other route options were looked at as part of the broader planning and discussion around access in the area. One of the questions that came up at the open house was why RR240 is being advanced instead of another route, so we are working to provide more information on that in future updates.

Why is RR240 being moved forward?
RR240 uses an existing road corridor and provides the most direct, shortest, and safest connection to Highway 18 when compared to the other options that were considered. That makes it a practical route from both a planning and engineering perspective.

Why were other routes not preferred?
Other routes were looked at, but they came with more challenges. In general, they were less direct, would have required more work to build or upgrade, and could have had greater impacts on surrounding land. They were also considered less suitable from a safety and operations standpoint compared to RR240. When everything was considered together, RR240 was identified as the more practical option to move forward.

What about clearing and timber salvage?
Some clearing will be required along the corridor to accommodate the road improvements and meet safety requirements. That includes making room for the road, ditches, and maintaining proper clear zones. Timber salvage, where practical, would be considered as part of the construction process.

What kind of traffic is expected to use the road?

Based on the current assumptions, about 112 trucks per day are expected to be haul-related vehicles. The main design vehicle is a tandem dump truck with a pup trailer, and that has been taken into account in the road width, structure, and intersection design.

Feedback from the open house is being reviewed and will help inform the next steps in the project. Updates will continue to be shared on this page.

Contact

For questions or comments, please contact:

Pardeep Bhullar

Development Engineering Officer

780-307-0580

Email Pardeep