Construction on Trans Canada Highway and Bowfort Road N.W. set to begin

Construction will begin today on a major interchange project at Trans Canada Highway (16 Avenue) and Bowfort Road in northwest Calgary. This new interchange will provide smooth free flow of traffic along the Trans Canada Highway, as well as better access to Canada Olympic Park, area businesses and communities.

“The current intersection at Bowfort Road is a major highway commercial junction, a well-used stopping place and mustering point for travellers heading west out of the city,” said Ward 1 Councillor Ward Sutherland. “Bowfort Road is a major road servicing Canada Olympic Park to the south and businesses and communities to the north.”

“The new interchange is an important part of a safe, effective transportation network that supports and services the surrounding recreation, business and community network, and the city at large,” Sutherland added.

“The plan for the new interchange includes the creation of a free-flow six-lane roadway for 16 Avenue N.W./Trans Canada Highway beneath a new interchange/bridge at Bowfort Road,” said Peter Rudolf, Project Manager for The City. “The interchange will have dual left turns in all directions and two through lanes in each direction on Bowfort Road.”

“Along with the relocation of major utilities, this project will also see a series of local roadway improvements including Bowfort Road, 83 Street N.W. and Canada Olympic Drive,” Rudolf said.

A six-lane detour roadway will be built adjacent to and north of the current TCH and will be used while the interchange is being constructed. This detour will accommodate traffic for approximately 15 months. Access to Bowfort Road north of the TCH will be maintained during this time, while access to COP and other southerly lands will be detoured through a temporary intersection, 500 metres west of the current intersection.

As well, 83 Street N.W. will be closed for approximately 12 months to allow crews to reconstruct that roadway and construct a roundabout. Roadway access will always be maintained for Greenwood Village residents, either to Bowness Road or to Bowfort Road and the Trans Canada Highway.

Construction of detour roads in the area begins this spring and summer, with the anticipated opening of the interchange by late 2016, and final completion by summer of 2017.

The ultimate plan is designed to incorporate the future interchange upgrade at Stoney Trail to the west and accommodates a basket weave structure in the eastbound direction. Alberta Transportation has been consulted to ensure coordination with the TCH/Stoney Trail interchange project. The plan also accommodates the widening of the Trans Canada Highway should that be required in the future.

The budget for this project is $71.7 million.

For more details, go to www.calgary.ca/tchbowfort.

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