By Richard Rolke

Black Press

Few people deny the need for a new highway between Winfield and Oyama, but the multi-million-dollar project is still generating debate.

Steady crowds flowed into Oyama Community Hall Tuesday for a Ministry of Transportation open house on the construction of a $77.9 million route on the hills above the existing highway along Wood Lake.

“It makes sense. There’s  been quite a few accidents along the road,” said resident Gary Burr of the current narrow, two-lane stretch.

However, while there is acceptance of the need for a new upper-level highway, concerns still exist.

“I’m happy they’re relocating (the highway) but I wish they had gone up higher,” said Doug Pickard.

“It’s only 120 feet up from us. There’s not much to stop traffic if they go off the road.”

That is also the view of Robert Montgomery, who is the immediate neighbourhood.

“I’m all for it but I wish it was a little further away. I’ll just have to get used to it,” he said.

If all the needed property is acquired in time and environmental assessments are approved, construction could begin by next summer and continue for two-and-a-half years.

Reid Drummond,  the ministry’s project manager, says considerable time has been spent on addressing the public’s concerns, including traffic noise.

“We are trying to make the best possible product with the least impact on people,” he said, adding that a public liaison committee was formed.

“The majority of the community is on board and excited about it.”

Much of the ministry’s current focus has been trying to acquire land from 30 owners. About one-third of the sites have been bought to date.

“We need to listen and understand what their issues are,” said Bob Pratt, property acquisition co-ordinator.

For farmer Alfred Witzke, he’s wondering how land negotiations will impact him.

“If negotiations are delayed, do I go to work in my orchard or shut it down?” he said.

“If do I put all of that effort in (to the crop), will I reimbursed?”

On the Winfield end, the new highway will begin just north of the Tim Hortons while on the Oyama end, the entrance will be near Gatzke and Evans roads. An underpass will provide access to Oyama and the existing route along Wood Lake.

Topography has been front and centre during planning and engineering.

“It’s a really challenging area,” said Forrest Klotzbach, a project engineer with Urban Systems.

“The lake hems us in and there’s  mountains, bluffs and residential areas to the west. For the most part we’ve been able to avoid homes but there’s been some impacted homes.”

Noreen Guenther, a Lake Country councillor, believes the highway will help preserve Oyama’s rural nature.

“They have kept up high enough to stay away from Agricultural Land Reserve lands,” she said.

Some businesses depend on the existing highway, and Guenther admits the new route will force them to readjust.

“You can’t solve every problem but there’s been a 100 per cent effort on behalf of the ministry,” she said of public concerns.