Province 'moving forward with plans' to fix problem intersection near Okotoks

There have been 47 serious accidents at this intersection on Highway 2 east of Okotoks in the last five years. Now local municipalities are getting together and calling on the province to fund big changes here. We collectively call on the province of Alberta to include the Highway 2 and 338 Avenue interchange including land acquisition, And construction of the project itself in the 2027 capital budget. The time has come. Let's get it done. This intersection and two others in the area that let vehicles cross Highway 2 have seen nearly 100 accidents in five years. And the way to fix it is with an overpass at this intersection here. The safety concerns are simply because it's got too much traffic for what it is designed for. Regular accidents put pressure on first responders who have to deal with fatalities and serious injuries and leave local towns without service. In the last three years we're up 165 percent at these intersections. The intersections are busier, cars are traveling faster, the highways are busier and a lot of what we come to is just Driver error cutting across the highway, not waiting for the opportune time and causing a major incident. Local mayors from Okotoks, High River, Nanton and Diamond Valley say it's time for the province to act. This is the number one intersection of dangerous intersections. So we're at the top of the list. Fund us. In a statement to CBC News, Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says safety is the province's top priority. He says median crossings will be closing along that section of Highway 2 and the province is moving forward with plans for an interchange at 338th Avenue. Construction work could begin next year. Dan McGarvey, CBC News, Okotoks.