Highway bypass in a new light

 Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter

 

Highway realignment is all many people can think about lately, and for some people it poses a slew of problems. Robert Howe sees things from a different perspective and feels Strathmore has been slowly killing an economic resource for years.

Howe has been a truck driver for 42 years, and said Strathmore people are their own worst enemies. 

“The reason why, is we are forcing away the industry that is supplying us what we need for business,” said Howe. He is talking about truck drivers being able to access local highway business. An example is by the Tim Hortons, a fence was put up and now trucks can’t turn around where it is safe. Besides Smitty’s it has been made almost impossible for trucks to go into the parking lot. These are just a few examples of what Howe is talking about.

“Now the trucks don’t want to stop here and the ones that do stop are residents of Strathmore. None of the trucks want to go all the way into Calgary, they want to stop here and go to Calgary in the morning,” said Howe.

Howe said for himself he likes stopping in the small towns and going to a movie, or going for a real dinner instead of a gas station special. Howe said most people who see where trucks are parked generally go where they are because they know truckers are looking for a good place to eat. “The trucks support the highway,” said Howe. 

“If they want no lights on the highway, they already have it, they just have to take the 901.”

He also said it is “bogus” and wonders what will happen to Medicine Hat and other towns and cities, which have the highway going through them. He said many of the truckers are trying to park anywhere they can and they are getting tickets. 

“If they are worried about noise, put a noise barrier up,” said Howe. “It’s a lot cheaper than moving our business. Make some room for the trucks instead of making it the opposite way.” 

In Dead Man’s Flat there is a Husky gas station meant for trucks, and Howe said there used to be room for 20 trucks to park, and now there have been cement pylons put up to prevent trucks from parking there. 

“We need to promote the traffic coming through, not discourage it,” said Howe. 

“They are using the traffic lights as an excuse but they’re not. It’s part of our job, you have to slow down for small towns, we’re used to it.”

It’s dangerous for the trucks or anyone to push the last 30 miles when they are tired, but many will if the road moves said Howe. He also said there should be a spot for people in RV’s to stop and rest if they need to. 

Another point he brought up is many people don’t know there is a downtown here when they pass through, because they don’t have an opportunity to get out and enjoy it. 

“We can sell this town to the people if we do it right. But if we allow them to bypass us it will be our own fault, and it’s not fair to blame it on the government,” said Howe. 

“I don’t mean bring the trucks into the residential areas, but on the same side we have to have a place to put them.”

Howe and his wife Pat are both in agreement about how to fix things, and the biggest thing they both agree on is the town needs to become more accessible to the trucks again, and to remember truckers are used to slowing down for towns. It’s not the truck drivers who care if the route is changed, and many would likely prefer to stop in town.