Fort Mac's Potholed Highways: A Testimony to Canada's Economic Hub
Fort McMurray, Alberta is a crucial economic hub for Canada, generating billions of dollars in GDP. However, its main highway, Highway 63, has been plagued by potholes and pavement cracks. Residents have had to take matters into their own hands, filling potholes themselves, prompting the Alberta government to repave urban roads around FM.
The author notes that the heavy semi-truck traffic on Hwy 63 takes a toll on the highway, but wonders why more use isn't made of the nearby railway. A large oil sands interpretive centre in FM is also highlighted as an excellent resource, but its remote location limits accessibility.
The author suggests that reclaiming mined-out areas could be done more productively by converting them to arable land for crop production, rather than leaving them as fire-prone boreal forest and brush. This would not only increase food production but also preserve valuable land from urban encroachment.