Construction will soon resume on twinning Highway 19 south of Edmonton, which has seen 223 collisions in the past five years.

In an announcement Monday, the federal and provincial governments and the Town of Devon shared details about the twinning of the western leg of Highway 19 — Phase 2 of a three-phase, multi-year improvement project.

The construction, which is expected to start in the next few weeks, will focus on a 3.5-kilometre stretch of Highway 19 between Highway 60 and Range Road 261.

Expected to be completed by October 2022, the work will include twinning on Highway 19, grade widening on Highway 60 and improvements to multiple intersections.

The road improvements are expected to cost $79 million — $48.9 million from the Alberta government, $27.7 million from Ottawa and $2.2 million from Devon.

“Twinning Highway 19 will greatly improve safety,”  said Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation and Municipal Affairs.

“Separating the eastbound and the westbound lanes will reduce the chances of head on collisions and protect the lives of every person who uses this road.

“Twinning will also create more room for industrial and commercial traffic and increase capacity to move oversized loads along critical, vital commercial corridor.”

The construction project is expected to create 400 jobs.

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