EDMONTON — A website launched to keep Edmontonians informed about the progress of the Valley LRT Line says ground breaking on the new transit line will happen on Friday, April 22.
The TransEd LRT Valley Line website contains information about the project, construction timelines, artists’ renditions and links to job opportunity pages for engineering firm Bechtel, train builder Bombardier and construction company EllisDon.
They, along with Fengate Capital Management, form the a four-company TransEd Partners group consortium that was awarded the Valley Line project.
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The website says TransEd is very interested in hiring local individuals, suppliers and sub-contractors to build the Valley Line LRT.
Before construction gets underway, some trail closures will go into effect in the North Saskatchewan River valley.
READ MORE: City prepares for major changes to popular River Valley trails, footbridge
On or around April 18, 2016, some trails and staircases in Louise McKinney Park and Henrietta Muir Edwards Park will be closed.
The closure is needed to do preparation work and build an access road to the construction site of the new Tawatina Bridge, which will carry the trains across the river.
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The trail closures will remain in effect until approximately June 6, 2016.
BELOW: Map of the affected trails
Some Geotechnical testing will also take place along the route, which could disrupt vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
READ MORE: LRT construction equals road closures for the city
Construction on the new LRT line to Mill Woods will be marked with a ground breaking ceremony on April 22 at 11 a.m.
TransEd Partners representatives will be joined by Amarjeet Sohi, the MP Edmonton Mill Woods and minister of infrastructure and communities, Brian Mason, the MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood and minister of infrastructure and minister of transportation, and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson.
Phase 1 of the Valley Line will run from downtown to Mill Woods in the southeast, at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion. Phase 2, which is not yet funded, will run from downtown to Lewis Farms in the west end.
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BELOW: Gallery of TransEd Partners artists’ renditions of the Valley Line.