A recent tragic accident on Highway 627 near Edmonton has prompted local residents to advocate for enhanced safety measures. The incident, which occurred early Thursday morning, involved a 69-year-old motorcyclist colliding with a pickup truck on Highway 627 between Range Road 273 and Range Road 274. This marks the fourth fatal collision on this stretch of road in Parkland County over the past year.
According to Parkland RCMP, there have been a total of 38 reported accidents on Highway 627 in the last year, with five fatalities resulting from four of these collisions. Concerned resident Robert Oliver, a retired veteran living near the highway, highlighted the need for safety improvements, citing the lack of advanced green lights at several intersections as a contributing factor to the accidents.
Expressing his worries for the safety of his family and others using the road, Oliver reached out to the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors to propose the installation of advanced green lights at the Highway 627 and Highway 60 junction. In a separate incident on July 16, a collision at this intersection claimed the lives of two Stony Plain residents.
Kevin McGillivray, the detachment commander at Parkland RCMP, acknowledged the rise in fatal collisions on Highway 627 compared to previous years. Collaborating with the Alberta Sheriffs Highway Patrol and Parkland County community peace officers, law enforcement agencies are intensifying their enforcement efforts along Highway 627 to address the recent surge in accidents.
As a provincial highway under Alberta Transportation’s jurisdiction, Highway 627 is undergoing scrutiny by authorities in response to these incidents. The Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors conveyed their condolences to those affected by the collisions and assured that they are cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the circumstances. They also committed to reviewing the RCMP findings to identify potential safety enhancements for the highway and its intersections.