Ring road construction at least 2 years away, province says

Construction on the remaining section of Calgary's ring road is still at least two years away, the provincial government said today while providing an update on the $5-billion mega-project.

The 31-kilometre section will be split in two, Gary Lamb of Alberta Transportation told reporters. There will be a southwest portion, which will be built on land acquired from the Tsuu T'ina First Nation, and a western section.

Southwest section runs from 69 Street S.W. to Highway 2A.

West section runs from Highway 1 to 69 Street S.W. within Calgary city limits.

The province anticipates the Tsuu T'ina land will be transferred by the middle of next year, Lamb said, which will start a seven-year clock to complete the project.

"At this point in time, we're aligning our planning and resources to fulfill that commitment," Lamb said.

"The plan is that we would then follow through on the west section once we get the southwest section started. We fully expect to meet the timelines for the two projects to be completed."

Technical designs, including plans to raise the road above the environmentally sensitive Weaselhead area, are in the works, Lamb said.

"The interchange that connects Sarcee Trail to Glenmore Trail to the Calgary ring road, this is going to be — I think — one of the most complex interchanges and one of the more challenging portions of the project to actually construct," said Lamb.

Public information sessions will be held in the fall or early winter of this year to give residents an opportunity to talk about the plans.

The province says, once complete, the Calgary ring road will provide more than 100 kilometres of free-flow freeway.