Project Update – January 18, 2021
What’s Happening in Traffic This Week
Crestmont Boulevard S.W.
Until mid-February, single lane alternating traffic is in effect for utility work on both sides of the road. Old Banff Coach Road S.W. is an alternative route to avoid this lane closure.
Nightly lane closures on Trans-Canada Highway at Stoney Trail
Traffic will be reduced to single lanes again this week, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night until January 21. Crews are installing overhang brackets on the bridge girders installed at the beginning of the month.
Overhang brackets support the bridge deck formwork and safety railings during construction
Nighttime lane closures
On January 22, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., east and westbound Trans-Canada Highway will be reduced to single lanes to remove overhead power transmission lines. Drivers may be required to stop for no more than 15 minutes.
Lane and/or shoulder closures will also be required on the southbound Stoney Trail exit to westbound Trans-Canada Highway and Valley Ridge Boulevard N.W. and on West Valley Road S.W. These lane closures will only be needed for short periods of time and will be implemented by flag persons. Please drive with caution as there will be crew members on the road directing traffic.
All work is weather dependent. Please check 511 Albertaand The City of Calgary’s traffic information map for up-to-date information on traffic detours and speed reductions. For all other project information, please visit westringroad.ca.
We appreciate your patience during construction.
Steel Girder Installation Complete
The steel girders have all been installed on the bridge at the east end of the project.
The last two girders are attached to the crawler crane’s load line to be hoisted onto the abutments 
Lifts that involve two or more cranes are called ‘tandem lifts’ or multi-crane lifts 
All six girders in place
Approach Slabs
One of the last components of bridge construction is pouring the approach slabs. Approach slabs bridge the transition from the road pavement to the bridge deck.
mage courtesy of Texas Department of Transportation Go Ahead! Blog
Bridge construction typically begins with excavation to build the foundation and sub-structure.
Once the abutments are complete, the area behind them is backfilled to form an embankment, but this embankment is difficult to compact making it prone to settlement.
This area behind the abutment wall and between the wingwalls will be filled with dirt to create an embankment to access the bridge
The approach slab, made of rebar and concrete, covers the backfilled area to protect against instability from the earth backfill settling.
Crews prepare to pour the approach slab on the north side, which is enclosed and heated to maintain the temperature required for the concrete to properly cure 
The approach slab concrete will cure for 14 days
Excavation Signals the Start of Bridge Construction
Over the next several weeks excavation will be ongoing at Old Banff Coach Road S.W. in preparation for bridge construction. Stoney Trail will go under Old Banff Coach Road S.W. and the excavation will remove dirt to get to the desired grade.
Once excavation is complete in late February, piling for the bridge foundations will begin.
Looking west at machinery starting earthworks at Old Banff Coach Road S.W.; the detour road is visible in the background
