Alberta will spend more than $50 million over the next four years to upgrade Highway 881. The project will add passing lanes, build a new staging/rest area, and improve intersections and roadside turnouts along the route between Lac La Biche and Anzac.

The 37-kilometre project, which is part of government’s A Blueprint for Jobs, starts southeast of Fort McMurray. Currently there are no passing lanes in either direction along this stretch of highway.

“Upgrading this highway will make travel easier for drivers on this route by building passing lanes to get around the heavy and super-heavy equipment heading to our oilsands regions. Improving Highway 881 will also encourage future investment in our energy sector by making it easier to move into and out of northern Alberta,” said Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation.

Until 2006, Highway 881 was a two-lane gravel road with narrow shoulders. Some sections still have narrow shoulders that become congested with high volumes of heavy and over-sized loads.

“Highway 881 is an important transportation route within our region. This project will not only improve the safety of all those who travel along this route, it will expand economic opportunities for the communities and projects along this highway. This much-needed upgrade, including passing lanes, will improve the lives of those who live and work in this region,” said Laila Goodridge, MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.

Engineering and design work for this project is underway. Construction on the project is slated to begin in 2022.