No one on Cochrane town council has seen as many ups and downs over the Hwy. 22/Hwy. 1A intersection issue as Dr. Ross Watson.

While the project has been announced, Watson says council has to keep their eye on the ball until the first vehicle passes through the new intersection because promises have come and gone before.

Watson was first elected to town council in 1995 and he recalls how this intersection was a growing issue even then.

“I was elected in 1995 and the council of the day met with Alberta Transportation to point out that 22 and 1A was a potential problem and at that point we got put on the 10-year project list, which was OK with us because he felt 2005 would be OK.

Watson didn't run in 2001 or 2004 but when he returned to council in 2007 it seemed a matter of one step forward, two steps back.

“I came back to council in 2007 and Transportation came back to us and I thought it was to announce the 1A and 22, but they came in and announced that we were back on the 10-year list.”

Traffic congestion was becoming an even greater issue by this point and council once again lobbied to get action taken.

“That council made a concerted effort to pressure the minister and the government of the day for the interchange and we were awarded it in 2010 but it was taken away from us in 2011, with the change from the Stelmach to the Redford government.”

When the NDP toppled the Prentice government in 2015 it was back to square one. 

“When the NDP government came into power all of our records were basically taken and shredded, because that's what governments do. So we had to start fresh with the NDP government.”

When the new Transportation minister was named Mayor Ivan Brooker was on his doorstep to push Cochrane's case, says Watson.

Now seven councils and four mayors later the projects appears to be a reality. But Watson says it's not over yet.

“This project has certainly been the long game,” says Watson. “We have had it taken away from us before so I think, and I've talked to the councillors and the mayor about this, that we don't feel our job is done until the first car go through that intersection.

“We know changes in ministers, changes in governments, changes in leadership have defeated us before; we don't want to see it again.”

While Watson has been the longest-serving councillor partaking in the discussion, Cochrane CAO Julien deCocq has been involved the full 22 years of on again, off again talks over the intersection. deCocq is retiring in June and this announcement will likely become yet another highlight from his years of service to Cochrane.

 

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