While Mayor Ivan Brooker feels the short notice provided by the Tour of Alberta organizers with respect to road closures tomorrow (Sept. 2) along Highway 1A is “unacceptable,” he is hopeful that residents will still get out to support the internationally-acclaimed cycling event and line the highway and Cochrane hill with support.
“We literally found out three weeks ago from a local resident … they entirely dropped the ball on us,” said Brooker, adding that had the town not found out inadvertently by a resident avid cyclist, it’s likely they would have only known one week in advance – when Volker Stevin started putting up signage along the affected roads.
“But at this point, there’s nothing we can do so we may as well get behind it.”
Portions of highways 1, 1A, 766 and surrounding township roads will be closed and/or delayed for extended periods of time between 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 2 for Stage 2 of the race (Olds-Kananaskis); see tourofalberta.ca/roadimpacts for a full schedule of delays and road closures.
Jeff Corbett, the technical director for the tour, assumed ultimate responsibility for the lack of communication.
“We incorrectly assumed it wasn’t an issue” but “hopes all those folks that were planning to come out and support the race will still do so,” he said.
“Come out and see these cyclists who, two weeks ago, were in Rio and four weeks ago were in the Tour de France.”
Anne Weerstra, who lives on Jamieson Road, said that while she is very disappointed by the short notice, the eastbound access on Highway 1A provides some relief for residents.
“Jamieson Road is a dead end road …it’s something we should have had proper notice about.”
Martin Buckely, CAO for the MD of Bighorn, has a plethora of concerns for the residents affected by the road closures and delays, as well as the potential impact on emergency services travelling on the roads; the MD of Bighorn found out about the race Aug. 24 through correspondence with area residents.
“We are very disappointed that no consultation took place,” said Buckley, adding that around one-quarter of the highways affected by Stage 2 of the race affect MD of Bighorn residents.
Cochrane schools will be dismissing students at 11:45 a.m. and co-ordinating early bus routes home to avoid the later afternoon congestion.
Cochrane Coun. Mary Lou Eckmeier sent a letter to Banff-Cochrane NDP MLA Cameron Westhead requesting an official explanation from the province (road closures okayed by Alberta Transportation) for cutting off accessibility to several communities.
While Westhead acknowledged there is “room for improvement” with respect to communication put out by tour organizers, “this is the biggest bike race in all of Canada and some towns pay a lot of money to be a host city … Cochrane will be showcased on an international stage”.
Most affected residents include those in the communities of GlenEagles, Heritage Hills, Heartland, Cottage Club, Ghost Village and others along Highway 1A whose sole access out of their communities is onto the highway that will be either be temporarily closed in areas or significantly delayed.
Emergency personnel will be on staff that day and emergency access would take precedence over the race.
“Ultimately, it’s a lack of communication with the public,” said Eckmeier, referring to the communications flub as having “poor insight” and “a lack of thought”.
“Community associations were not given any time to inform their residents and the short notice doesn’t provide residents enough time to change their plans.”
The annual Tour of Alberta, which joins the Tour of California and Tour of Utah for top three North American bike races on an international level and is referred to as “Canada’s first and highest-ranked professional road cycling stage race” on the event website and is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale and Canadian Cycling Association.
Cochrane council rejected the opportunity to become a host city for previous Tour of Alberta races, as this requires a heavy financial, volunteer and facility commitment on behalf of the partnering host communities. This year the race starts in Lethbridge and finishes in Edmonton.
It is also viewed as a tremendous opportunity for international exposure, with a 2015 international audience of some 47 million viewers.
