How a Fort McMurray-to-Grande Prairie highway could be a game-changer for northern Alberta
The Alberta government is embarking on a major infrastructure project that will have far-reaching economic and safety benefits for the province’s north: the extension of Highway 686. This new highway will connect Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie, cutting the distance between the two communities by about 100 kilometres. Currently, the shortest route between the two cities is through Athabasca, which is 750 kilometres long and takes most drivers seven to eight hours to complete.
Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen has made improving Highway 686 a key priority in his mandate letter for 2023. This project is significant as it has been many decades since Alberta has built a new greenfield highway of a similar length. The extension of Highway 686 will cross hundreds of kilometres through remote areas and connect two major regions of the province’s energy industry.
Fort McMurray has long advocated for this highway due to the economic and safety benefits it will bring to the community. Wood Buffalo Mayor Sandy Bowman believes that a secondary highway connecting Fort McMurray will enhance community resilience, public safety, and economic growth. Former president of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, Bryce Kumka, sees the road as a game-changer that will put the city in a strategic position between heavy oil production sites in Lloydminster and Grande Prairie, as well as the Peace Country to the west.
The idea of a highway linking Fort McMurray and the Peace Country gained renewed interest after the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray. The road will serve as an emergency route for residents to evacuate in case of emergencies, providing an alternative to the current sole egress route, Highway 63. Wood Buffalo regional fire chief, Jody Butz, believes that having another evacuation route will significantly benefit the safety and well-being of the region.
While the Highway 686 extension is a top priority for Fort McMurray, it is less crucial for Grande Prairie. The city is focusing on advocating for a different road to be built, namely the Highway 40X connector. However, Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton is open to discussing the Highway 686 extension and believes it could bring economic opportunities to several communities and Indigenous groups.
The Alberta government is working in partnership with Peerless Trout First Nation, Loon River First Nation, and Bigstone Cree Nation on the Highway 686 extension project. The partnership has divided the project into two phases, with Phase 1 involving paving an existing 68-kilometre stretch between Red Earth Creek and Peerless Lake. The hope is to have half of this stretch paved by the end of the summer. Phase 2 will involve preparing a final report with a proposed route, which will be delivered to the province during the summer.
Chief Gilbert Okemow of Peerless Trout First Nation emphasized that the partnership is in the driver’s seat and is working closely with other nations that will be impacted by the project. The province has committed $2 million to First Nations for coordination and up to $5 million for pre-engineering work. The partnership hopes that their report will guide the province during negotiations and consultation with First Nations.
The timeline for the Highway 686 extension project is ambitious, with the partnership aiming to begin paving the first stretch in summer 2026. Preliminary engineering activities, including geotechnical work, will occupy most of this year. The entire project is expected to take five years to complete, providing a much-needed economic boost and improved safety for the communities along the route.
