Residents in the vicinity of Highway 627 southwest of Edmonton are urging authorities to implement more safety precautions following the fourth deadly crash in the past year. The most recent incident occurred early Thursday morning, claiming the life of a 69-year-old motorcyclist who collided with a pickup truck between Range Road 273 and Range Road 274.
According to Parkland RCMP, there have been 38 accidents on Highway 627 in the last year, with five fatalities resulting from four of these collisions. Robert Oliver, a retired veteran residing near the highway, expressed concerns about the safety of multiple intersections along the road, attributing accidents to the absence of advanced green lights and speeding motorists.
Oliver emphasized the need for improvements to ensure the safety of road users, especially considering that his children will eventually travel on the same route for school or work. He has 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 junction.
In a tragic incident on July 16, two Stony Plain residents lost their lives in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 627 and Highway 60. Oliver stressed the importance of reevaluating the highway layout to enhance safety measures and reduce traffic speeds.
Kevin McGillivray, Parkland RCMP’s detachment commander, acknowledged the rise in fatal collisions on Highway 627 compared to previous years. Collaborating with the Alberta Sheriffs Highway Patrol and Parkland County peace officers, law enforcement agencies are intensifying enforcement efforts on Highway 627 to address the recent surge in accidents.
The Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors expressed condolences to the affected families and highlighted ongoing cooperation with law enforcement agencies to investigate the accidents. They affirmed their commitment to assessing RCMP findings to identify potential safety enhancements for Highway 627 and its intersections.