This release was issued under a previous government.

Alberta Transportation engineers and contractors have been working on Highway 63, about 15 kilometres north of House River, since November 6 when small cracks began to widen, forcing the closure of the northbound lanes.

Crews had to wait to begin repairs until the expansion of the cracks slowed and have been monitoring the road at four-hour intervals.

Work being done

Friday, November 8:

  • Cement grout will be poured into the cracks during the evening and requires time to cure.
  • Dirt from the nearby Highway 63 twinning construction project is being used as fill along the eastside of the highway to help stabilize the roadway and prevent further shifting.
  • Travel continues to be slow through the area, with alternating one-lane traffic.

Saturday, November 9:

  • Weather permitting, asphalt provided from Fort McMurray will be brought to the site to repair the surface.
  • Special monitoring equipment will be installed to determine the extent of any future movements.
  • One or both northbound Highway 63 lanes could be reopened as soon as the work is complete and the road is safe for travel.
  • Load restrictions will remain in place and overweight loads will continue to detour via Highway 881 until Alberta Transportation can assess the stability of the area.
  • Reduced speeds will remain in place. Speed fines double when construction workers are on site.

Cause of the road issue

Alberta Transportation officials continue to monitor and assess the damage to determine what caused the roadway to shift and crack. This area has seen minor movements and cracking in the past that were repaired by localized crack sealing and pavement patching.

Additional information

Regular updates will be posted on 511Alberta.ca, the source for Alberta’s official road reports. Motorists are encouraged to drive safely and to the current road conditions.

Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to open new markets for Alberta’s resources. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for, to improve market access and to increase safety on our highways.

Road reports

For up-to-date road information and traffic delays

Call:  511 toll-free

Visit:  511.alberta.ca

Follow:  @511Alberta