Stoney Trail/Sarcee Trail interchange improvements almost finished

Improvements to the Stoney Trail and Sarcee Trail interchange are nearly completed, according to the City of Calgary.

Construction on the project began in July 2016 and includes the widening of 112 Avenue N.W. from two to four lanes.

The interchange was originally designed to serve passenger vehicles, however, the City of Calgary said an increasing number of large, commercial vehicles began using the interchange, causing traffic delays and raising safety concerns.

“We have a lot of heavy vehicles using this area for a number of different reasons,” City of Calgary spokesperson Julie Radke said. “So it does add a lot of traffic to the area.”

“This helps to ease congestion in the area overall, including over to Country Hills Boulevard and Royal Birch Boulevard.”

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The new modified interchange includes a loop to provide better traffic flow for motorists travelling southbound on Sarcee Trail to eastbound Stoney Trail, plus improved on-off ramps.

“These improvements at Stoney Trail and Sarcee Trail will make the interchange safer, more efficient for all users and will help reduce travel times for motorists and commercial traffic,” Ward 2 Councillor Joe Magliocca said in a Tuesday news release.

Meanwhile, the widening of 112 Avenue N.W. between 69 Street and Sarcee Trail will make the roadway safer for drivers, according to city officials.

“The widening of 112 Avenue N.W. between 69 Street and Sarcee Trail increases the capacity of the area road network, makes the roadway safer for all vehicles, especially trucks and commercial vehicles and better accommodates the needs of local industries,” Magliocca added.

The total cost of the project is $16.1 million.

“This is one of 20 transportation projects the city is opening this year, with a total investment of $400 million, that will have a major, positive impact on Calgary’s road and pedestrian network and how people move in the city,” Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said.

“With the downturn in the economy and accelerated funding for projects like this, we’re creating jobs, taking advantage of lower prices and building critical transportation infrastructure that will make it easier for Calgarians to move around the city.”

The city said the speed limit in the construction zone will remain at 50 km/h until the project is completed.