Highway 63 paving underway as province begins $15M repair push

Work is underway on Highway 63, the 434-kilometre corridor between Fort McMurray and Edmonton that residents have called the "highway of death" for years of deteriorating pavement and fatal crashes.

The province began a 10-kilometre paving project Monday, August 3, expected to wrap within two weeks. This marks the first visible step in a $15 million commitment announced in July to repair and maintain the heavily-trafficked route.

Construction runs daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with drivers advised to expect lane closures and delays through Fort McMurray between Beacon Hill Drive and the Confederation Way interchange in both directions.

The project follows months of public pressure. Residents organized a pothole-repair effort in June after years of frustration, and the dire condition of the road — which has also been called the deadliest in the province — prompted community outcry from oil sands workers, daily commuters, and families travelling between communities. Some residents took to Facebook to express relief once repairs began.

The $15 million funding addresses long-standing safety concerns but covers only a portion of the full highway.