Multiple west central Alberta communities are set to receive funding from the Government of Alberta for infrastructure projects.
The province announced $114.6 million in funding to support 86 road, bridge and water infrastructure projects last Friday. The funding is being allocated through the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP), Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) and Water for Life program.
Through the AMWWP, the Town of Barrhead was awarded $72,225 to support a feasibility study concerning wastewater treatment system upgrades. The study is budgeted at a total of $150,000.
The town utilizes a lagoon-based water treatment system and recently, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas reviewed the lagoon’s effluent quality and will soon enforce newly established lower limits.
A preliminary design that would meet these new limits included upgrades estimated at $29 million, which the town says is not an ideal option at the moment. As such, it is commissioning a feasibility study into alternative options that may have lower upgrade costs.
Under STIP, Barrhead County should receive two installments of $405,000, one for the BF 76144 culvert replacement (Township Road 605A) and one for the BF 74972 culvert replacement (Range Road 35, south of Highway 654). Each replacement is expected to cost $540,000 total.
Lac Ste. Anne County should also see $935,000 for work to Township Road 540. The total cost for this project is estimated at $1.87 million and involves constructing a new mile of highway between Range Road 31 and 32 to better accommodate agricultural traffic in the area.
Reeve Joe Blakeman said engineering plans still need to be finalized, with work on the project continuing this year or next year, depending on how the remaining costs fit within the county’s budget.
The Water for Life program saw a successful application from the Darwell Lagoon Commission, which is set to receive $14,809,641.30 to support its $16.45 million lagoon extension.
This lagoon is located within Lac Ste. Anne County and a more urgent project than Township Road 540, Blakeman said.
“After we’ve de-sludged and done everything with the Darwell Lagoon, we’re getting to the point where it’s getting close to being full,” he explained. “If we can transfer the fluid north to our other lagoon then we don’t have to shut it down or expand it.”
The plan is to connect the Darwell Lagoon to other lagoons farther north, avoiding the need to do expansions on a recurring basis. Blakeman said this approach spends less municipal taxpayer dollars and is a longer-lasting solution.
You can find the full lists of successful 2025 AMWWP, STIP and Water for Life applicants online.
