No. H 034/09
For release - March 6, 2009
EDMONTON — Construction on a roadway interchange at Anthony Henday Drive SW (ring road) and Stony Plain Road in Edmonton is set to begin April 1 at a cost of $168.6 million and will open by fall 2011 thanks to a funding contribution announced today by the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, and the Honourable Luke Ouellette, Alberta Minister of Transportation.
The Stony Plain Road interchange will be a full systems interchange with free flow in all directions and will include seven bridges. The project will relieve considerable congestion and improve safety at this location. Construction on Anthony Henday Drive will extend from Whitemud Drive to south of Yellowhead Trail in west Edmonton.
"The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that will boost the economy and create jobs for Canadians," said Minister Merrifield. "We are working together with Alberta to put this interchange on the fast track in order to provide opportunities for the people of the province and promote long-term economic growth."
The Government of Canada has identified this interchange and additional Edmonton ring road projects as a priority for funding. It is setting aside up to $100 million to partner with the Government of Alberta on these important infrastructure improvements.
"This is the first time the province has combined the design and construction of a highway project into one contract," said Minister Ouellette. "It means the project will be built one year earlier than if we had followed our conventional process; and, it also means significant cost savings for Albertans."
"An investment in our infrastructure is an investment in our future and will contribute to the long-term economic growth of our country," said Minister Ambrose. "Today's announcement illustrates that we are making more progress in providing dependable, efficient infrastructure in the province."
The successful bidder for the construction of the Anthony Henday/Stony Plain Road interchange is KMC/PCL, a Joint Venture.
The federal government continues to work with the Government of Alberta to identify additional priority projects and ensure they become a reality over the next two construction seasons.
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