Short-term pain for long-term gain
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today May 10, 2006
There’s going to be a lot of short-term pain in Fort McMurray, but we’ll reap a big long-term gain.
The work on Highway 63 now underway to help speed some traffic for the short term and for the construction of several overpasses in the longer term is underway. Traffic is already backing up at some points during the day as a result.
MLA Guy Boutilier had his tongue stuck firmly in his cheek when he told Today last week “I’m about as patient as the next person.”
He went on to add, “but for those of us who live here we’re going to have to be patient to see these improvements in the long term.”
Boutilier’s absolutely right.
We all remember the muss and fuss and the sea of mud that accompanied the construction of the King Street overpass that lasted more than 1 1/2 years. The corner was, for those who have moved to the Oilsands City since its completion, a killer. Even on a good day, every bid to head south on the highway from King Street was a series of near-misses.
Today, the overpass performs well. We’re all safer as a result.
Overpasses on Highway 63 at Hardin Street, Morrison Street, Thickwood Boulevard and Confederation Way will all go a long way to not only speeding traffic but enhancing safety for everyone.
But the construction phases will be a royal pain. Tempers will flare. Drivers will attempt to gain the upper hand by cutting in to gain an advantage.
We’ve all got to take it easy.
Then there’s the new bridge across the Athabasca River.
Wherever it’s built — upstream or downstream of the existing structures — it will likely result in few disruptions until it’s linked up to the highway. We can take some small measure of satisfaction in this.
The other big addition to the community — the $118-million improvement to MacDonald Island — will be another big problem for those using the existing facility during the construction phase.
In fact, no one would be surprised if MacIsland reported a big operating loss for the next couple of years as users stayed away in droves during construction.
Shor- term pain, long-term gain.
We’ve all got to keep our focus on the future.
As we report elsewhere in the paper today, the first of the trailers that will be home to workers to build MacIsland are being set up.
Although the subject is being treated as a hot potato by some municipal officials — they flat-out don’t want to talk about the in-town work camp, hoping we won’t write about it — the trailer’s existence is a cold, hard fact.
Some people in Fort McMurray are still bitter about the decision to set the camp up. They’ll have to get over their objections and move forward, however.
The camps are a fact, not an idea. When MacIsland is finished, they’ll be gone.
If not, some local politicians will be gone.
More short-term pain for long-term gain.
There’s going to be a lot of short-term pain in Fort McMurray, but we’ll reap a big long-term gain.
The work on Highway 63 now underway to help speed some traffic for the short term and for the construction of several overpasses in the longer term is underway. Traffic is already backing up at some points during the day as a result.
MLA Guy Boutilier had his tongue stuck firmly in his cheek when he told Today last week “I’m about as patient as the next person.”
He went on to add, “but for those of us who live here we’re going to have to be patient to see these improvements in the long term.”
Boutilier’s absolutely right.
We all remember the muss and fuss and the sea of mud that accompanied the construction of the King Street overpass that lasted more than 1 1/2 years. The corner was, for those who have moved to the Oilsands City since its completion, a killer. Even on a good day, every bid to head south on the highway from King Street was a series of near-misses.
Today, the overpass performs well. We’re all safer as a result.
Overpasses on Highway 63 at Hardin Street, Morrison Street, Thickwood Boulevard and Confederation Way will all go a long way to not only speeding traffic but enhancing safety for everyone.
But the construction phases will be a royal pain. Tempers will flare. Drivers will attempt to gain the upper hand by cutting in to gain an advantage.
We’ve all got to take it easy.
Then there’s the new bridge across the Athabasca River.
Wherever it’s built — upstream or downstream of the existing structures — it will likely result in few disruptions until it’s linked up to the highway. We can take some small measure of satisfaction in this.
The other big addition to the community — the $118-million improvement to MacDonald Island — will be another big problem for those using the existing facility during the construction phase.
In fact, no one would be surprised if MacIsland reported a big operating loss for the next couple of years as users stayed away in droves during construction.
Shor- term pain, long-term gain.
We’ve all got to keep our focus on the future.
As we report elsewhere in the paper today, the first of the trailers that will be home to workers to build MacIsland are being set up.
Although the subject is being treated as a hot potato by some municipal officials — they flat-out don’t want to talk about the in-town work camp, hoping we won’t write about it — the trailer’s existence is a cold, hard fact.
Some people in Fort McMurray are still bitter about the decision to set the camp up. They’ll have to get over their objections and move forward, however.
The camps are a fact, not an idea. When MacIsland is finished, they’ll be gone.
If not, some local politicians will be gone.
More short-term pain for long-term gain.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home