Wetaskiwin, Alberta drivers who use 40 Avenue will need to plan for a slower commute starting today as the City of Wetaskiwin kicks off a major road rehabilitation project between 56 Street and the CPKC rail crossing. The work, which began June 18, 2026, is expected to reduce traffic to single lanes in both directions and will bring occasional lane closures and detours until mid-September.
According to the City of Wetaskiwin, the project is a preventative maintenance effort to tackle aging infrastructure, improve pedestrian connectivity, upgrade drainage, and reduce flooding along the busy corridor. Crews will remove worn-out road and sidewalk sections, replace substructures, repave the avenue, and add stormwater design improvements to cut down on water pooling and seasonal damage.
Motorists should be ready for traffic reduced to single lanes in each direction throughout the construction period. The city is asking residents to keep an eye out for construction signs, watch for workers, and take alternate routes when possible to avoid delays. The estimated completion date is September 15, 2026, provided the weather cooperates.
The contract was awarded to PSA Construction Inc., and the work is part of a larger push by council to maintain local roads. The city’s 2026 capital budget set aside $3,947,925 for new purchasing, construction, and replacement of assets, including roads, neighbourhood and alley renewal, and facilities. This project aligns with the council’s 2026-2029 strategic plan, which lists infrastructure and environmental sustainability as one of four key pillars.
Anyone travelling near the CPKC rail crossing should also be aware that the area will see construction activity right up to the tracks. The city is reminding all drivers to slow down, respect posted speed limits, and stay alert in construction zones through to the fall.
