Public-private partnership looks to make Deerfoot Trail better, faster

Via 660 News By Josh Ritchie

(PHOTO: Tom Ross – 660 NEWS)

CALGARY — A public-private partnership is expected to help provide some big improvements to Alberta’s most popular road.

“Deerfoot Trail is Alberta’s busiest road and Calgarians know it’s congested and needs improvement,” said Transportation Minister Ric McIver. “Alberta’s P3 model means we double the taxpayer’s investment with private money, to upgrade twice as many bridges and intersections. Improving Deerfoot Trail creates good-paying jobs and boosts our growth in the future.”

The Alberta government has committed $210 million to the construction for the improvements, with the hopes that almost $200 million could be input by private investments.

The investments are also expected to create hundreds of jobs.

“Alberta’s government continues to deliver on projects of importance to Calgarians,” said Matt Jones, MLA for Calgary-South East in a release. “Upgrades to Deerfoot Trail are necessary and will ensure our city’s busiest road is able to accommodate the growth to come.”

The province provided an approximate timeline for the work, which is estimated to begin in Fall 2022 and finish in Fall 2026.

Some of the improvements include:

• Ivor Strong Bridge twinning
• Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail Interchange
• Three through-lanes in each direction
• Interchange reconfiguration, including new bridges and ramps
• Twinning the bridge over Glenmore Trail Interchange
• Reconfiguring the 17 Avenue SE and Memorial Drive Interchanges and eliminating weaving traffic
• Widening between 17 Avenue SE and Airport Trail to four lanes in each direction