Fed up in Fort Mac: Residents take Highway 63 road repairs into their own hands

Frustrated by prolonged delays in road repairs on Highway 63, residents of Fort McMurray are bypassing official channels and initiating their own maintenance efforts. Local businessman Mohamed Tarrabin is spearheading the citizen-led initiative, scheduled to begin on Friday, June 12, 2026. Tarrabin stated that residents have been complaining to the province and municipality for months about the highway's condition and the resulting vehicle damage.

Several local businesses, including Indigenous-led companies, have pledged support for the project. Tarrabin emphasized that for safety reasons, only certified operators, experienced personnel, and vetted volunteers will be permitted to participate in the road work. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo acknowledged the residents' frustration but reiterated that Highway 63 maintenance is the responsibility of the Alberta government.

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residents have complained about the state of the highway and associated vehicle damage for months to the province and municipality and are now banding together to fix the road themselves.

Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen is expected to address the situation. In the interim, the community has been actively advocating for improved transportation infrastructure. Last week, municipal public works crews removed significant amounts of litter and debris from the highway's ditches and green spaces. The Wood Buffalo RCMP is aware of the planned citizen-led repairs and has issued a warning regarding the substantial risks and liabilities associated with being on the highway. Police stated they will monitor the event and take enforcement action if necessary to ensure public safety, cautioning that impeding traffic could lead to tickets under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and charges under the Criminal Code.

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While the RCMP respects citizens constitutionally protected rights to protest, public safety must always be the overriding priority.