Residents fear Highway 1 realignment could kill Strathmore’s economy

Posted on: July 17, 2010 J A McRae

Shannon LeClair -Times Reporter

Residents of Strathmore gathered together on July 7, to let the Town know they plan to fight the proposed highway realignment. It quickly became standing room only during the regularly scheduled council meeting. Hal Lust, owner of Strathmore Motors, spoke on behalf of business owners along Highway 1.

“We have concerns about the highway, and wanted to make council aware of how we feel and what we think will happen,” said Lust. There are approximately 85 businesses and 1,500 people working full time/part time along the highway stretch. Residents fear moving the highway four miles south of Town will destroy the local economy as has happened with the towns of Brooks and Vegreville when the highway was moved.

“The town will shrink and cease to be the vibrant community we love to live in,” said Lust. Another big fear is because Strathmore is less than 40 miles from Calgary; no traveler will go out of his or her way six miles to stop here when they can just push the last few miles. “Everyone has a stake in pushing to keep this highway here,” said Lust.

Realigning the highway was an issue Strathmore had to deal with in the 1980’s. For a period of three months all but three routes into Strathmore were closed, causing business to drop by 30 per cent. Through hard work and heavy petitioning the realignment was placed on a backburner to be left alone. Now the highway planning commission is once again talking about moving the highway, and the unconfirmed reason is due to the three sets of lights travelers have to pass through. The commission allegedly wants the highway to be non-stop from Calgary to Saskatchewan.

“This is going to be devastating and we have to stop it,” said Lust. Lust is urging business owners and residents to start writing to our politicians and help fight the proposal. If accepted the proposal is not set to take effect for another 10 to 15 years. Lust will be at the next council meeting set for 7:30 p.m. July 21.