Project Update - August 3, 2020 - West Calgary Ring Road

For up-to-date information on traffic detours and speed reductions, please visit 511 Alberta.

We appreciate your patience during construction.

Photo Map

We’ve added some new photos to the interactive map, have a look!

Bow River Pathway

Bow River Bridge pathway safety fence — Installation of permanent hand railings along the new pathway alignment is complete

Trans-Canada Highway/Stoney Trail Interchange

Girder on truck — Girders arriving on site from the fabrication shop in Edmonton

south span girder in air — Girders arriving on site from the fabrication shop in Edmonton

Fill is dirt used in construction with as little organic matter as possible (when organics decompose pockets of empty space can be created, resulting in unsettling).

Reinforced soil slopes often use compacted fill dirt layered with geotextiles to strengthen the soil along potential sliding zones. The geotextile also reduces the pore water pressure and acts as a filter to prevent internal erosion within the slope.

placing geogrid — Crews install geogrid – a flexible mesh that acts as a “tie-back” to resist the outward movement of the retained soil

geogrid on slope looking south — Crews install geogrid – a flexible mesh that acts as a “tie-back” to resist the outward movement of the retained soil

A synthetic erosion control mat is used as a permanent facing on the reinforced slope. It serves to:

protect the bare soil face against erosion until vegetation is established
slow the speed of runoff for increased water absorption by the soil
reinforce the root system of the vegetative cover

Trans-Canada Highway/Valley Ridge Boulevard N.W. Interchange

Last week the second bridge deck was poured, this time on the Valley Ridge Boulevard interchange.

tying rebar bridge deck — The final preparations before the bridge deck is poured

deck poured truss screed — The final preparations before the bridge deck is poured

Another deck pour is planned for this week, marking the third bridge deck poured for the North project. Only 17 more to go!

looking west at rebar — Looking west at the bridge deck ready for concrete

Crews will begin working around midnight and be complete around 10 am on Wednesday, August 5 (weather permitting). This work must occur overnight because the high-performance concrete used for the bridge deck requires cooler temperatures to slow evaporation while the concrete begins curing.

Residents should expect disruptive activity that night, including equipment noise and lights. Every effort will be made to reduce disturbance to adjacent residents.

This is a significant milestone for the project. We recognize the increased disturbance for those living immediately adjacent to the construction and sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding while we build this important infrastructure.

MSE wall strapping — Installing straps on the Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) wall

Controlled Blasting

Looking west over blast area from Cougar Ridge wide shot — Looking northwest from Cougar Ridge at the future WCRR mainline

South Pask blasting area — Looking northwest from Cougar Ridge at the future WCRR mainline

Geotechnical Work Starting

Starting this week, crews will be onsite drilling or excavating holes in the Transportation Utility Corridor as part of geotechnical work. Geotechnical work takes samples of the site conditions for analysis to determine things like soil type and stability and rock presence and depth.

Utility Work on Old Banff Coach Road S.W.

The City of Calgary continues work on relocating the watermain to make way for the new interchange at Old Banff Coach Road SW. This work will be ongoing until the fall.