Foothills County has the go ahead from Alberta Transportation to put up a new set of traffic lights on Highway 7 West of Okotoks at the intersection of 16th Street West.

Division Two Councillor, Delilah Miller, says it's something area residents have been asking for for years.

"I had huge support. Sherry Andrews from the Chinook Honey Farm got a petition going when I first got elected and a lot of her area residents and a lot of her visitors signed that. And I noticed a lot of them were from Okotoks."

She says along with the lights, the entire intersection will be rebuilt and the County will pave a large section of 16th Street south to 434th Avenue, South.

"So that's a couple of miles of good pavement. That road's been problematic for us for quite a few years. So, that'll be a pretty deluxe intersection by the time we're done with it."

She says the Province will pick up half the $1.2 million price tag, while the County and the Town of Okotoks pay the other half.

Miller, says it's something she's been working on for six years.

"A lot of people from Black Diamond and Okotoks use that intersection on a daily basis. I've sat at that intersection personally and watched people try to navigate it. And it's frightening, it's really frightening how unsure people are when they go through that intersection."

They hope to start the project in the Fall.

 

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email news@okotoksonline.com