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Emma Lake road to be finished by fall

Aug 7, 2011 | 12:15 PM

Campers and cottage owners at Emma Lake will have to put up with their unfinished highway a while longer.

The ministry of highways is hoping to see the Murray Point access road complete this fall–one year after its original timeline for completion.

“We were hoping that the contractor would make more progress last year, but nonetheless we’re still hopeful the contractor will be able to get out on that project and finish the paving this season,” said Kirsten Leatherdale, ministry spokeswoman.

Poor weather affected construction last season and weather related issues are again to blame for the highway’s uncompleted state.

The contractor is tied up with another highway project, Leatherdale said.

“That contractor is working on a grading and paving project on highway 310 near Fishing Lake. That’s where they are working now. They’ve had some problems making progress on that project specifically with the grading and earth work due to all the heavy moisture in the area,” she said.

They will likely finish 310 in late August, then move over to the Murray Point road project, she said.

The $6.4-million project was given funding in 2009. It included the grading and repaving of seven kilometres of highway, which connects the Murray Point Provincial Campground and Okema Beach with highway 263.

“This is a road that was a thin-membrane surface. Many people would remember how easily it would break up. There were portions that we had to revert to a gravel surface,” Leatherdale said, explaining the road will be upgraded to a high quality standard.

bbosker@panow.com