Oil revenues could speed up road construction, Stelmach says

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said Wednesday that rising oil prices could help boost the pace of road construction in the province.

Supply concerns sent the price of crude soaring to a record $132 US a barrel Wednesday.

Stelmach said that he would like to use oil revenues to speed up planned road projects, including Edmonton's Anthony Henday Drive.

"I'd like to, if possible, accelerate all of the ring road projects, and also the completion of Highway 43," he said, also listing Highway 2 and other routes along the Canada-Mexico corridor.

"Of course, the long-range [goal] is to complete the bypasses around major cities, so that mostly truck traffic that's moving goods and services to the United States will be going around the major centres."

Edmonton's ring road, and the interchanges, are scheduled for completion in 2014.