The Terwillegar Drive on-ramp to Whitemud Drive westbound/northbound will close Wednesday night for up to 16 days due to the ongoing 53rd Avenue overpass rehabilitation.
Alternate routes include 119 Street/122 Street to the Whitemud, or continuing farther north to Fox Drive in order to avoid the bridge construction.
A similar closure happened back in May, when the Terwillegar on-ramp was closed for two weeks.
READ MORE: Terwillegar Drive ramp closure could cause commuter chaos in southwest Edmonton
On Wednesday, Whitemud Drive will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Starting Thursday, traffic patterns will change between southbound and northbound lanes to accommodate formwork removals and miscellaneous underdeck work. The city said drivers are advised to follow traffic control signs, and understand that the schedule is dependent upon the weather.
The 53 Avenue overpass is located just north of where Terwillegar Drive and Whitemud Drive intersect.
MAP: Edmonton’s most-needed interchanges
Terwillegar Drive is the major route in and out of the city’s deep southwest. The area has seen a huge population boom since the turn of the century, and in turn an increase in traffic volume. As of 2014, around 40,000 vehicles drive the six-kilometre stretch each day, according to a city report.
READ MORE: Edmonton traffic congestion ranks 5th in Canada, according to GPS
Construction on the 53 Avenue overpass began in April. The city is giving the south Edmonton overpass a facelift in order to extend its lifespan. Most of the work on the project is expected to last from spring until fall with some additional work on 53 Avenue expected to take place next year.
First constructed in 1977, the overpass carries six lanes of traffic as well as two turning lanes and two pedestrian walkways over Whitemud Drive.
Watch Below: (Aug. 11) All six lanes of the Whitemud opened under the 53 Ave. bridge for the first time since construction began on the bridge in March.
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