Project Update - West Calgary Ring Road

August 19, 2022

What’s Happening in Traffic This Week

REMINDER: Ramp from Valley Ridge Boulevard to Westbound Trans-Canada Highway Closed

The ramp from Valley Ridge Boulevard to westbound Trans-Canada Highway is closed until early September while the permanent ramps are constructed. Access to westbound Trans-Canada Highway is provided at the Bowfort Road / Trans-Canada Highway interchange.

*Looking northeast from the top of the embankment at earthworks for the permanent ramps to and from westbound Trans-Canada Highway / Valley Ridge Boulevard N.W.*

ONGOING: Paving on the South Project

Over the next few months, paving will be ongoing at various locations on the South project, including Old Banff Coach Road, 17 Avenue S.W. and Highway 8. Please watch for flag people directing traffic.

*Looking east at a water truck following a roller compacting the granular base course (gravel for the pavement structure) on the new westbound Highway 8 lanes*

*Looking west at asphalt on the new westbound Highway 8 lanes*

All work is weather dependant. Please check 511 Alberta and 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.

More Blacktop

Both eastbound ramps at the project limits have been paved.

*Standing on the ramp bridge from Stoney Trail to eastbound Trans-Canada Highway looking east*

*Standing on the ramp from eastbound Trans-Canada Highway to Bowfort Road N.W. looking west*

*Top lift paving on westbound Trans-Canada Highway lanes*

Stormpond Construction

Last year, these two stormponds were connected using directional drilling. They are two of seven stormponds on the North project being constructed to manage stormwater runoff. Wet ponds slow water down long enough for some of the sediment and pollutants to settle out, helping return cleaner water to our rivers and streams. In this case, the two stormponds work together, with the upstream pond, on the west, draining into the downstream pond further east.

*A boring machine in a trench between the two ponds was used to push the pipe horizontally*

Pond construction has been ongoing since the spring.

*A subdrain is installed in a trench lined with geotextile, also known as filter fabric, which blocks sediment from entering the drain*

Stormponds are often lined with clay soil and filter fabric to reduce the likelihood of sediment or pollutants in stormwater reaching ground water. Essentially, stormponds are like household water filters.

*Clay soil is spread around the pond basin*

*Topsoil and geotextile (filter fabric) line the stormpond perimet*er

17 Avenue S.W. Interchange Progress

Earthwork and other construction on several kilometres of Stoney Trail continues.

*Granular Base Course (GBC) forms the foundation layer of the pavement structure; it provides drainage and protects the pavement structure from the frost*

Highway 8 Interchange Progress

The flyover bridge for northbound Stoney Trail to westbound Highway 8 has four piers to span about 225 metres over both northbound and southbound Stoney Trail bridges.