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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Central Alberta Projects Included

Major upgrades to Alberta’s highways highlighted in 2022

Dec 16, 2022 | 3:58 PM

Hundreds of road and bridge projects completed during the 2022 construction season will drastically reduce travel time on Alberta’s busiest roads.

That according to provincial officials who say that across the province, Albertans rely on a vast highway network to get to and from work and to get products to market. As a result, Alberta’s government says it has invested in strategic infrastructure projects that will ease congestion and promote economic growth and diversification.

During the 2022 construction season, Alberta’s government says it invested $1.6 billion in 203 projects, supporting more than 13,000 jobs across the province. This investment in Alberta’s major trade corridor highways is hoped to ensure people, goods and services can move safely and efficiently, supporting further economic prosperity.

“Building, maintaining and expanding our highway network is a major component for economic growth in Alberta. Our highway network is crucial for moving our products to market and making sure our store shelves are well stocked. The work done this year highlights our commitment to a safe, efficient and reliable transportation network,” says Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.

The government says Budget 2022 invested $7.3 billion over three years in the Transportation and Economic Corridors capital plan, including:

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• $1.64 billion in capital investment for planning, design and construction of twinning, widening and expansion of roads and bridges
• $1.58 billion in capital maintenance and renewal for highway and bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects
• $569.6 million for water management and flood mitigation protection
• $3.5 billion for capital grants to municipalities

2022 construction season highlights

• 2022 construction season projects included repaving, bridge rehabilitation and replacement, slide repairs, road expansion and water management infrastructure projects, as well as general maintenance work such as pothole repairs, crack sealing, line painting, grading of gravel roads and guardrail installation.

Water projects

• $24.7 million was invested in the Jensen Dam, located south of Magrath, including upgrades to the concrete spillway and construction of an emergency spillway.

West Calgary Ring Road

• Construction continues on the remaining portion of the Calgary Ring Road between Highway 8 and the Trans-Canada Highway.
• The West Calgary Ring Road project includes the South Bow River Bridge. Progress continues, with completion scheduled for 2024.
• Once complete, the entire Calgary Ring Road will provide 101 kilometres of free-flow travel, enhancing access to markets and supporting economic growth for the City of Calgary and surrounding area.

Southwest Anthony Henday Drive expansion

• The work to expand the southwest portion of Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton is valued at about $125 million.
• The majority of work was completed in fall 2022, with 10 per cent remaining for 2023.

Southern Alberta

• Major upgrading and maintenance took place on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway southbound, between Veterans Boulevard in Airdrie and Balzac. Similar work was carried out on Stoney Trail, west of Deerfoot Trail. This work included paving, the installation of guardrails, signs and rumble strips, and line painting.
  • This represents a $7.35-million investment.
• Reconstruction of Highway 817 between Bow River and Highway 901 is 85 per cent complete and includes a realignment of the Highway 24 connector, as well as guardrail installation, illumination, signs, rumble strips and line painting.
  • This represents a $25.6-million investment.

Central Alberta

• Phase I of Highway 11 twinning is 95 per cent complete and the highway is fully open to traffic. Phase I involves twinning Highway 11 south of Sylvan Lake and two new roundabouts at the intersections of Highway 781 and Range Road 15.
  • The new roundabouts improve efficiency and safety for traffic turning in all directions.
• The new roundabout west of Bentley at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 12 is 80 per cent complete and fully open to traffic.
• Construction work is mostly complete on the access improvements and grading for the new rest area located on the southbound side of Highway 2 at Wolf Creek, north of Lacombe.

Peace Region

• The Highway 2 Arch Bridge was rehabilitated over the past two years at a project cost of $36 million.
• Phase I of Highway 40 twinning between the City of Grande Prairie and Wapiti River began in 2021 and is ongoing.
  • The work will be completed by early fall 2023.

North Central Region (including Edmonton metropolitan area) and Fort McMurray Region

• $108 million was invested for the twinning of three kilometres of Highway 15 through Fort Saskatchewan and for the construction of a new bridge.
• $23 million was invested in Hangingstone Bridge on Highway 63 in the Fort McMurray area, including highway realignment and the completion of a new bridge.