(AlbertaIndex, May 6, Tuesday) ---Suncor Energy, an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, said it has signed an agreement with the province of Alberta to build and maintain an interchange which will help improve traffic flow and safety on Highway 63, notorious for its high rate of accidents.

    Suncor will also pay for the $55 million interchange to be built about 25 km north of Fort McMurray. When completed in December, the interchange will be transferred to the state’s ownership.

Commuters including employees and tradespeople working at the company’s existing operations including community residents and workers at industry sites further north will benefit from the new infrastructure.

Suncor said it initiated the plan to improve highway safety during the construction and operation of the company’s new upgrader. As part of a planned $20.6 billion oil sands expansion, the interchange will link Suncor’s base plant on the east side of the highway to the new upgrader and future projects on the west side.

The freeway-style interchange will replace the current ground-level intersection and is expected to allow traffic to maintain speed on the highway thus reducing the travel time while the on- and off- ramp access will improve safety at the intersection. The interchange will also accommodate future widening of Highway 63.

Suncor’s executive vice president Kirk Bailey said: “The new interchange will improve safety for motorists and reduce congestion on the highway. But we’re not in the infrastructure business, so it makes sense to have the state own and maintain the interchange.”

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