SYLVAN LAKE, Alta. — The trip from Sylvan Lake to Red Deer is safer and less congested now that Hwy. 11 has four lanes, noted the government sector in charge of highways.

The 13 kilometres worth of new eastbound lanes open to traffic Oct. 5 from Hwy. 11’s junction with Hwy. 596 near Red Deer to its junction with Hwy. 20 at Sylvan Lake. The project also includes a new bridge over Cygnet Lake and upgrades to the intersection of Hwy. 11 and 20.

Construction began in the spring of 2005 on the $16-million project. Luke Ouellette, Minister of Restructuring and Government Efficiency and MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, said the highway improvements are welcomed by his constituents.

“My constituents are pleased to see this important project completed,” said Ouellette. “Travel has been increasing steadily over the past number of years between Red Deer and Sylvan Lake and the newly-expanded road will accommodate these increases now and into the future.”

According to provincial government statistics, between 8,500 and 13,000 vehicles use the highway each day, depending on location. On average, twinning a highway reduces collisions by 47%.

The Alberta highway network contains approximately 31,000 kilometres of roadway, of which more than 24,000 kilometres are paved and 2,200 kilometres are divided multi-lane. The network also contains 4,000 bridge structures.