The site of the old David Thompson High School will one day be paved over as part of Highway 11 twinning.
Back in August, Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) discussed a number of school properties that are set to be turned over to the province under the Disposition of Property Regulation.
WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia says the Alberta government has completed its assessment of the land from the old David Thompson High School, and under the act, it was determined that WRSD is to transfer this property to Alberta Infrastructure for zero dollars.
“It is our understanding the Government of Alberta intends to use the old David Thompson High School land for the Hwy 11 twinning project,” says Mattia.
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An e-mailed statement to 94.5 Rewind Radio from Transportation and Economic Corridors confirms the former school site will be part of the road.
A portion of the former David Thompson School site will be used to accommodate the twinning on the north side of the existing Highway 11 alignment.
The ministry also provided an updated timeline for construction:
- The 5.5 km section from Rocky Mountain House to Highway 22 is in the final stages of design and is on track for tendering in late 2025 or early 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.
- The 44 km stretch from Highway 22 to Benalto will be built in phases. The first phase, a 4.5 km section from Benalto to the Medicine River, is also in final design and expected to move to tender in late 2025 or early 2026, with construction starting in 2026.
- The remaining 39.5 km will follow, phased based on permitting and land acquisition.
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The old school building was closed, in part, due to the school’s sewage lagoon not meeting code and being too costly to repair.
Site remediation work, including removal of the sewage lagoon and demolition of the old building, which had stood for decades, was completed in 2023.
The current site of David Thompson High School in Leslieville celebrated its grand opening in June 2023.
The old David Thompson High School c. 2017. (file photo)
Other school sites discussed were the old HW Pickup School in Drayton Valley, which will be turned over to the town along with several WRSD upgrades including curbs and pavement. The former Breton Elementary Property will also be turned over under the regulation.
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