UPDATE: Unfortunately there is not much of an update in regards to the reopening of Highway 837. Residents were informed that the hope was that the highway would be opening at the end of October but according to a report on CTV News, the Province of Alberta shared that the major hold up is the sensors alerting of future slides in the area. The parts have been ordered for the sensors but the Province has not confirmed a date when the road will reopen.
In an update from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, they share drivers in the Drumheller region are advised that Highway 837, north of Highway 575, will remain closed until the end of October, as repair work continues.
Repairs to the highway are underway, and replacement components for the barriers and sensor systems have been ordered.
It’s expected that repairs, including sensor replacements, will take until the end of October to complete.
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Back on June 1st, residents northwest of Drumheller, in the Orkney area, were essentially cut off from access to the Drumheller Valley due to a landslide.
An area that has had numerous issues over the years, just south of the Lions Campground, had the hill come down on the highway. Years ago, the area was limited to one lane and the speed was reduced to 50 kilometres per hour. With the landslide, the road was closed back in June and at the time, the operating hours of the ferry were increased to provide a connection to Drumheller for those that live in the Orkney area.
Unfortunately, the road remains closed to traffic as of today, September 8th, and word is that the Bleriot Ferry is to reduce its hours to 8 AM to 7 PM after the Labour Day long weekend, according to the Province of Alberta website, making it more difficult for area residents to travel back and forth to Drumheller. If the ferry is not operational, vehicle traffic from the area would either have to detour to Highway 836, north of Carbon, or travel across the Morrin Bridge and travel Highway 9/56 into Drumheller.
We have reached out to Alberta Transportation in regards to what is the delay in the reopening of the highway to area traffic. We have yet to receive a response from Alberta Transportation. We have also reached out to MLA Tara Sawyer and are hoping to connect with her soon about a possible plan for the road and area. We will update the story once we receive word.
According to 511 Alberta, the anticipated end of the road closure is September 16th. Emcon confirms that they have done everything that they can and are waiting approval from Alberta Transportation to move forward and open the road.
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