Feds pledge $582.9M to Calgary ring road project

CALGARY—The Government of Canada has announced infrastructure funding of up to $582.9 million for the Southwest Calgary Ring Road Project. The work is designed to ease congestion, reduce travel times and improve safety on the highway commonly known as the Stoney Trail.

“We are proud to invest in the Calgary Southwest Ring road, which will help drivers reach their destinations more quickly and safely… We want to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in Alberta and across Canada,” Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, said.

The project involves the construction of 31 km of highway, 46 bridges, 10 service level interchanges, four multi-level major interchanges and the replacement of a bridge over a CP Rail line. The venture is expected to boost the local and regional economy by generating more than $800 million in labour income, contributing to industrial developments in Calgary and improving access for industrial producers and shippers moving goods to British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver via Highway 1. It will also reduce travel times and increase traffic flow for tourists from the United States.

The government noted the project was made possible thanks to a historic land-transfer agreement between the Government of Alberta and the Tsuu T’ina Nation. The highway improvements are expected to allow the Tsuu T’ina Nation to expand and diversify their economy. For the City of Calgary, the project will provide new housing development space, as well as increased services to support regional population growth.

“The Southwest Calgary Ring Road is an important infrastructure project, enabling us to provide Albertans with a safe, modern highway network that will improve travel times in and around one of Canada’s most important cities and support economic growth in the province,” Brian Mason, Alberta Minister of Transportation, said.