Local residents are urging for enhanced safety measures following the fourth fatal accident in the past year on Highway 627, located southwest of Edmonton. The recent incident involved a 69-year-old motorcyclist who tragically lost his life after a collision with a pickup truck between Range Road 273 and Range Road 274.
According to the Parkland RCMP, there have been 38 reported collisions on Highway 627 over the last year, with five fatalities resulting from four of these incidents. Concerned community member Robert Oliver, a retired 30-year veteran residing near the highway, highlighted the potential hazards at various intersections along the road, citing the absence of advanced green lights and speeding drivers as key factors contributing to accidents.
Expressing his concerns, Oliver emphasized the importance of implementing changes to enhance road safety, especially considering the future travel needs of younger individuals. He reached out to the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors twice, advocating for the installation of advanced green lights at the Highway 627 and Highway 60 intersection.
In a tragic event on July 16, a collision at the Highway 627 and Highway 60 junction resulted in the loss of two Stony Plain residents, a 69-year-old man, and a 64-year-old woman. Oliver emphasized the urgency of reevaluating the highway’s design to balance traffic flow and safety for all road users.
Kevin McGillivray, the detachment commander at Parkland RCMP, noted a rise in fatal collisions on Highway 627 compared to the previous year. Collaborating with the Alberta Sheriffs Highway Patrol and Parkland County community peace officers, law enforcement agencies are intensifying enforcement efforts on Highway 627 to address the recent surge in collisions and their severity.
As a provincial highway under the oversight of Alberta Transportation, Highway 627’s safety remains a top priority. A Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors spokesperson expressed condolences to those affected by the collisions, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with law enforcement to investigate these incidents and explore potential safety enhancements for the highway and its intersections.