The mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is looking to pass on the costs incurred during the rescue of hundreds of stranded individuals on Highway 63 in northern Alberta to the provincial government. The incident occurred last month when a severe snowstorm hit the highway, leaving between 300 and 400 vehicles stuck for hours, with some individuals stranded overnight. Although there were no injuries reported, emergency responders faced challenges in reaching a passenger with a medical emergency due to communication issues between the municipality and the province.
Mayor Sandy Bowman expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication during the crisis and highlighted that it is the responsibility of the Alberta government and its contractors to maintain clear highways. He emphasized the significant financial burden placed on the RMWB, with snowplows operating nearly around the clock to clear the highway.
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen confirmed plans to meet with Mayor Bowman to discuss the financial implications of the rescue operation. Dreeshen acknowledged that while the contractor had several snowplows on standby, the primary obstacles to reaching individuals were accidents on the highway that required clearing.
The incident has underscored the necessity of the Highway 686 extension, connecting Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie, as Highway 63 remains the sole direct route out of Fort McMurray. Dreeshen emphasized the importance of improved communication among various agencies to effectively manage such extreme weather events in the future.
The province has conducted a review of its Highway 63 maintenance contractor’s response to the snowstorm, although the findings have not been made public yet. In response, the RMWB’s council has unanimously agreed to conduct its own investigation into the municipality’s handling of the situation.