Alberta invests $1.3M to boost driver safety on oilsands highway

In a bid to enhance safety of drivers traversing Alberta's oilsands highway, the provincial government and the Athabasca County are partnering to invest $1.3 million that will go to emergency response, enhancing traffic enforcement and driver safety awareness, among other things.

GRASSLAND, Alta. - The Alberta government is joining with Athabasca County to improve driver safety on the province's oilsands highway.

A joint $1.3-million investment will go toward hiring up to four full-time emergency responders for Highway 63 that runs to Fort McMurray.

Municipal Affairs says portable speed indicators to alert drivers near emergency scenes will also be purchased.

The government says it will also pursue ideas in traffic enforcement, driver awareness, public safety and volunteer recruitment.

The goal is to develop a regional approach to fire and emergency response on the highway, where traffic accidents lead to a number of fatalities every year.

Alberta is contributing $800,000 and the county is putting in another $500,000.