As part of a province-wide safe highway initiative, the government of Alberta will be building a safety rest stop on the QEII between Calgary and Edmonton.

Although the rest stop will promote public safety and encourage drivers to pull over for fatigue, the stop interferes with plans that Lacombe has for development in that area.

“I think that most everyone can agree that a rest stop is an appropriate safety feature. The only issue that I have and that I think the council has as well, is the location of it. To locate it at its proposed spot, which is only a few miles away from what is a soon to be a large development that which borders the county and city,” said City of Lacombe Mayor Grant Creasey.

The City of Lacombe partnered with Lacombe County to invest more than $15 million dollars to service the development.

As for the rest stop, it would only serve the northbound lane and they worry it would interfere with Lacombe’s local business. The provincial government had noted that the area would be subject to commercial buildings that may include gas stations, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants.

“I rather doubt that our current government would necessarily choose to be in direct competition with a municipality rather than just enhance the services and provide the safety features that motorists deserve,” said Creasey.

In response to the potential interference, Council will be sending a letter to the Minister of Infrastructure, Prasad Panda to highlight some of these issues and suggest a different area to build the rest stop that may serve both the north and southbound lanes and support the plans that Lacombe has already invested in.