Construction on another section of the massif Deerfoot Trail Improvement Project in Calgary is now complete.

Provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshan announced Friday that construction of the second key segment of the project at Beddington Trail and 11 Street NW, which began in spring 2023, has been completed at a cost of $19 million.

Work included connecting 11th Street NE to the westbound Bedington Trail and northbound Deerfoot Trail, as well as adding a fourth lane in each direction of Deerfoot between Airport Trail and Bedington Trail.

The newly improved section will open to traffic on Saturday October 26, 2024.

Construction continues on six other sections of Deerfoot The entire project is expected to be completed sometime in 2027, at an estimated cost of $615 million.

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With more than 180,000 vehicles using it every day, Deerfoot Trail is Alberta’s busiest highway.

City of Calgary Ward 10 Councilor André Chabot says the improvements “will improve the efficiency and safety of the movement of goods and people.”

Chris Dinsdale, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority, says it should also improve access to the Calgary International Airport “by reducing traffic congestion, providing alternative routes, increasing connectivity and boosting economic and logistical efficiency.”

The whole Deerfoot Trail Improvement Project understand :

• new ramps and northbound lane between McKnight Boulevard and 64th Avenue NE. Work began in fall 2022 and was completed in summer 2023;
• new interchanges at Beddington Trail NW and 11st NW, completed October 20, 2024;
• the reconfiguration of the McKnight Boulevard interchange, which began in spring 2023 and is expected to be completed in fall 2025;
• new reconfiguration of the track and ramp between 16th avenue. NE and 32 BC NE, scheduled for completion at the end of 2025;
• a new northbound bridge and ramps at Glenmore Trail SE, scheduled for completion in 2026;
• new interchange at Southland Drive SE, scheduled for completion in 2026;
• completion of new ramps and interchanges at Bow Bottom Trail and Anderson Road SE is planned for 2027;
• the Ivor Strong Bridge twinning, scheduled for completion in autumn 2027;

The Alberta government estimates that when the entire project is complete, motorists can expect 15 per cent faster morning commutes, 22 per cent faster evening commutes and 900,000 travel hours. saved each year on Deerfoot Trail.

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