Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Laurie in Question Period

Anthony Henday Drive Noise Levels

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Transportation says that his government will not enforce a bylaw passed by the city of Edmonton to protect local residents against excessive noise. One major cause of such noise is the use of engine retarder brakes on the western Anthony Henday Drive. Claiming ownership and control over the Anthony Henday, this minister dismisses the very real, very valuable concerns of Edmontonians. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Has the minister had time to review Edmonton’s bylaws and their enforcement on the Anthony Henday?

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, I didn’t completely review the bylaw, but I know that the city of Edmonton has a bylaw that states, “A person shall not use engine retarder brakes to slow or stop a motor vehicle at any time.” This bylaw is effective on city streets only, and the Anthony Henday Drive is under provincial jurisdiction. There are no provincial acts or regulations concerning the use of engine retarder brakes. These brakes are a safety braking device on tractor trailer units. We do not have a law within our traffic safety plan that’s going to take away safety measures from vehicles.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. To the same minister. Well, given that you claim it is your highway and that you insist on preserving the right to use engine retarder brakes, will you protect local residents against your highway noise?

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, in consideration of residents’ concerns my department has installed signs along Anthony Henday Drive requesting drivers of heavy vehicles to avoid using their retarder brakes. As soon as the at grade intersections are upgraded to the overpasses, this will no longer be an issue. That’s another reason why we’re working as fast as we can to move forward on the overpasses.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Well, since those engine retarder brakes do make a disruptive noise and the minister doesn’t seem to be willing to abide by the bylaws on this matter because it’s his highway, why doesn’t the government do the obvious thing and build the sound barriers to protect the residents from this noise now? It still isn’t in your three year infrastructure plan. You just talk about it like it’s going to happen. When?

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, I told the hon. member already that we’re working as fast as we can. I can assure the hon. member that we’re going to move things forward. Not everything always gets done the third year that it gets onto a plan. Sometimes it moves up to first place.