CALGARY – The Calgary and Edmonton ring roads will get $2.9 billion over the next five years, according to Tuesday’s provincial budget released Tuesday. The province declined to break down the costs any further.
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation said disclosing the cost of the Calgary ring road specifically would affect the procurement process. The province is still working with three bidders to finalize a successful bidder, expected to be announced next year. Calgary’s ring road is set to be completed in 2022.
The funding is part of a five-year capital plan that sees $4.7 billion allocated to roads and bridges, including Highways 63, 28 and 19 in addition to the ring roads.
The government said the northeast Henday in Edmonton is scheduled to be done in 2016, completing the city’s ring road, so the spending beyond 2016-17 is entirely for Calgary’s ring road.
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The federal government had announced “funding consideration” up to $582.9 million for the southwest Calgary ring road on July 30, which would “ease congestion, reduce travel times and improve safety” on the highway, commonly known as Stoney Trail. Construction will include 31 kilometres of highway, 46 bridges, 10 service-level interchanges, four multi-level major interchanges and replacing a bridge over a CP Rail line.
The provincial government pledged to complete construction on the southwest Calgary ring road within seven years on July 7. The land transfer between the province and the Tsuu T’ina Nation necessary for the project to move forward was finalized on May 22, after the federal government authorized changes to the boundaries of the nation. The government of Alberta and Tsuu T’ina Nation originally signed the land transfer agreement in Nov. 2013.
READ MORE: Southwest ring road set to proceed as Tsuu T’ina Nation boundary changes approved
The federal funding falls under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. The money is conditional on the project meeting eligibility requirements as well as the signing of a “contribution agreement.” The release said Alberta’s provincial government will pay for any remaining costs.
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