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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Economic opportunity: 18 commercial rest areas

Alberta looking for contractors to build new highway rest areas

Feb 16, 2022 | 11:38 AM

The provincial government is searching for interested parties to develop up to 18 highway rest areas across the province.

Following extensive feedback from municipalities and the trucking industry over the last 18 months, the Government of Alberta says it’s eager to see these commercial sites take shape as it will allow people to fuel up, stretch their legs or stop for a meal and the construction will generate good-paying jobs.

“Albertans, truckers and visitors do a lot of travelling on our highways, and they need safe places to pull over, rest and have a meal. Alberta’s government is grateful for the feedback we received, including from commercial truck drivers. They help keep our economy rolling, and they deserve better amenities,” said Rajan Sawhney, minister of transportation.

Government officials list a series of benefits that commercial rest stops bring including:

• Improving highway safety by providing a place to park and rest.
• Enhancing travel experiences of Albertans and visitors by offering fuel, food and other commercial services.
• Provide innovative, efficient and environmentally sustainable services with newer infrastructure and potential for new technology such as vehicle charging stations.

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“The development of new commercial safety rest areas in Alberta will not only give travellers a safe place to take a break, it will support economic development and job creation in rural communities. Rural Alberta has something to offer everyone and these new rest areas will make rural communities more accessible to all Albertans,” said Paul McLauchlin, president of Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

A Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) is now posted online. Interested companies can submit a proposal. Following the RFEI, a Request for Proposal (RFP) process will include awarding contracts later in 2022. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as 2023.

“We appreciate the government’s ongoing commitment to the trucking industry. These new rest stops will fulfill all our drivers’ needs, allowing them to resume their journey safely, following a well-deserved break,” said Inder Grewal, owner of transportation company Dreamliner Express.

According to Alberta Transportation, costs associated with the commercial developments on the government-owned land are set to be paid by the private sector and recovered through business revenue.

“For years, our industry has advocated for safe, clean, and well-equipped commercial rest areas, which are essential to the wellbeing of both professional commercial drivers and public motorists. We thank the provincial government for responding to this urgent need, and we support these efforts to establish a safer and more dignified environment for our industry,” said Chris Nash, president of Alberta Motor Transport Association.

Sites currently identified for development, as well as future sites, will only be developed following consultation and input from local stakeholders to ensure any concerns are addressed.