CVR road report for 2020 work completed

The County of Vermilion River outlined road projects as one their 2020 highlights during a Vermilion & District Chamber of Commerce Business Connect meeting last week.

“The number one request is always roads – it’s simply because of the miles of roads we have,” said Reeve Lonnie Wolgien.

“We are blessed with the fortune of people wanting to travel with a smart car down a back road, and a Super-B.”

The county serves approximately 8,200 residents and is responsible for approximately 5,300 kilometres of roads.

Last year alone, they gravelled 1,100 kilometres for approximately $4.5 million. Their dust control program added $1.1 million to complete 290 kilometres.

Thirty-eight kilometres of road construction cost $2.8 million.

“Two paving projects over 33 kilometres totalled $14.2 million put back into the local economy,” said Wolgien.

“CVR had one of the best years as far as project completion, despite being a COVID year.”

With an addition to their natural gas facility, he was asked if they utilized any Vermilion contractors. He said any projects over $75,000 are put up for tender, so the gas project went to Lloydminster companies, and gravel to a Kitscoty company but they are all available to everyone.

“The support of small businesses come from our staff. The county supports a lot of parts from Midwest or Napa, so we are supporting local and Vermilion companies as much as we can,” said Wolgien.