Design phase begins for Highway 621 improvements
BRAZEAU COUNTY, August 14, 2025 — Alberta’s government is partnering with Brazeau County to make Highway 621 safer and more efficient for vehicles carrying oversize and overweight loads.
A design consultant will be hired to complete planning, engineering and design work for 30 kilometres of grade widening between Highways 22 and 753. The upgrades will improve safety, support Alberta’s heavy load corridors, and strengthen the province’s economic competitiveness by making it easier for industry to move goods. Brazeau County will lead the hiring of the consultant and deliver the design work.
Highway upgrades will accommodate a 7.32-metre-wide load (with a permit) passing a 2.6-metre-wide regulated commercial truck. Highway 621 carries approximately 1,300 vehicles per day, with 8.5 per cent truck traffic (about 87 trucks daily).
The design phase is expected to take two to three years, subject to right-of-way acquisition and utility relocations.
Highway 621 is part of Brazeau County’s Western Economic Corridor, and is the only route in the region that accommodates over-dimensional traffic to Whitecourt, Grande Prairie and Peace River. This critical link supports resource industries, agriculture, and emerging sectors like hemp and geothermal, connecting them to markets across Alberta and beyond.
“Upgrading Highway 621 is about more than just paving a road – it’s about building a more efficient transportation network that connects Alberta’s industries to markets while keeping our economy competitive,” says Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. “This investment will help ensure that heavy loads and critical goods can move safely and reliably for years to come.”
“Highway 621 has been a long-standing concern for residents across the Drayton Valley–Devon region “ says Minister of Sport and Tourism Andrew Boitchenko. “As MLA, I heard loud and clear from constituents that safety and infrastructure improvements were urgently needed. Today, I’m proud to stand with the Government of Alberta and Brazeau County to announce that we’re getting it done—delivering on our commitment to make this vital corridor safer, more efficient, and better equipped to support local industries and communities.”
“This project has been sought after for quite some time, and we are grateful to Minister Dreeshen and Minister Boitchenko for making this project a go,” says Brazeau County Reeve Bart Guyon.” This will make the road safer and more accessible for industry. Brazeau County and Alberta move on wheels, so we are grateful to have this project go ahead. It will be very well-received by our residents, businesses, and industries.”
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Quick facts
- Highway 621 runs near Cynthia, Alberta, and spans approximately 30 km between Highways 22 and 753.
- It is part of Brazeau County’s Western Economic Corridor, which is an emerging industrial hub designed to attract investment and drive innovation. It leverages the region’s strengths in oil and gas, forestry, and agriculture while creating opportunities in emerging sectors such as hydrogen, biomass, geothermal, rare-earth minerals, and helium.
- Current width of Highway 621 ranges from 8.3 metres to 8.6 metres; ideally, highways that carry oversize/overweight loads should be at least 10 metres wide.
- Approximately 145,000 oversize and overweight permits are issued annually in Alberta.