Dead ends with the Alberta Government continue to hamper efforts by High River Town Council to get the Centre Street bridge flood mitigation project started.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says this is the last piece that needs to be finished off but it's not a small piece.

"We're continuing with the meetings with the Alberta Government obviously but we're climbing the ranks now because we're hitting too many road blocks with other ministries. We'll be talking directly with the Premier and with Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee, who we have a very good rapport with to try and get this project moving."

He says he thinks it's all about the money, the current economy and the Alberta Government's unwillingness to cut any big cheques these days.

Snodgrass says the project is going to cost around $30 to $40-million dollars and and adds he's looking forward to speaking with the Premier and Minister Larivee to get things moving sooner rather than later.

He says he's feeling bounced around between Alberta Environment and Alberta Transportation who they spoke with this week, adding the project just needs to get finished.

"The Centre Street bridge is obviously too low, it doesn't have a wide enough span to handle the flow of water underneath it that we have and it's reaching the end of its life."

He says the he spoke with Alberta Transportation Monday and is frustrated with the road blocks that keep coming up.

"It's money, it's the economy and this is a thirty to forty million dollar project to get this done so it's not cheap. But with all that's been done in the past with all of our flood mitigation and finishing off the southwest berm, we just need to finish this project off."

High River Mayor, Craig Snodgrass. Photo - Jeff McLenaghan