Major improvements coming to Highway 28

Highway 28 is an important economic and transportation corridor that connects Edmonton north to Highway 63 and east to Cold Lake and Saskatchewan. The highway supports many industries, including oil and gas, agriculture and forestry.

Alberta’s government is investing $5 million in engineering design work to improve Highway 28 between Smoky Lake and Cold Lake to increase the safety and performance of this important highway corridor while maximizing the lifespan of the existing infrastructure.

“Highway 28 is an important economic and transportation corridor supporting the oil and gas, agriculture and forestry industries, connecting Edmonton to Highway 63 and east to Cold Lake and Saskatchewan. The result of this work will improve the safety and performance of this important highway corridor and maximize the lifespan of the existing infrastructure.”

“Since I was elected in 2015, I have tirelessly advocated for improving the Highway 28 corridor through Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul. I am pleased to see Alberta’s government move forward with these improvements, as it will make my constituents’ commutes safer and help drive our local economy forward.”

“Highway 28 is the backbone of community life in northeast Alberta. We are all thankful that the province will start the process through an engineering study evaluating which sections should be twinned or become passing lanes from Cold Lake to Edmonton.”

“Highway 28 is a vital link that connects northeastern Alberta with the rest of the province, including Lac La Biche County. We are pleased to see the Government of Alberta acknowledge the importance of our region and to ensure improved access to the areas that contribute so much to Alberta’s growth and success. We look forward to this and other highway improvements that will ensure our economies can work together to enhance the prosperity of all Albertans.”

“Highway 28 is an economic corridor supporting major projects in the northeast, projects that generate up to a third of the province’s GDP. It is a highway that is heavily trafficked and rapidly deteriorating. The Town of Bonnyville is pleased to see the Government of Alberta take an important step forward in our much-needed infrastructure improvements of Highway 28. We look forward to continuing to work with the government and other members of the Northeast Alberta Alliance for Growth and Opportunity to help create a strong economic future for the province.”     

"Smoky Lake County is pleased to see the Government of Alberta take this first step in much-needed infrastructure improvements of Highway 28, the northeast Alberta asphalt backbone and key economic corridor, and continue to emphasize the value of further commitments and investments in bettering this heavily trafficked roadway. If we hope to protect our travelling public daily and the economy of tomorrow, we must make smart, decisive investments today."

“The MD of Bonnyville is pleased to see the allocation of funds to the engineering portion of a rejuvenated Highway 28. This highway is a mainstay for the northeast region and is in many ways a crucial transportation artery for all of Alberta. As a significant percentage of all bitumen royalties are generated in the MD of Bonnyville, it is critical to the region and to the province as a whole that our resources are able to freely, safely and conveniently be transported out of the region for final processing.”

"Highway 28 is a key economic corridor that connects the Town of Smoky Lake with Albertans and communities across the province."

The improvements include intersection upgrades, grade widening, curve reconstruction, passing lanes and safety rest areas. The need and timing for twinning will also be assessed.

Quick facts

• In 2018, the Alberta government completed a Highway 28 corridor study from Edmonton to Cold Lake that recommended several improvements.

• This work will build on the recent investment in the Highway 28 corridor over the past several years. Completed projects include:

  • intersection improvements at Highway 28 and Highway 892 at the Hamlet of Ardmore

  • intersection improvements at Highway 28 and Highway 657 at the Hamlet of Fort Kent

  • traffic lights at Highway 28 and 54 Avenue in Bonnyville

  • construction of a roundabout at Highways 28 and 831

  • grade widening, including passing lanes, north of Highway 28A to Highway 651 (10 kilometres)

  • reconstruction of three curves in the Redwater area

  • overlay of Highway 651 to west of Highway 827 (15 kilometres)

  • overlay west of Highway 827 to Highway 829 (nine kilometres)

  • overlay east of Highway 831 to west of Smoky Lake (eight kilometres)

  • intersection improvements at Highways 28 and 855

  • intersection improvements at the Highway 28/Smoky Lake access