Project Update - West Calgary Ring Road

February 15, 2023

What’s Happening in Traffic This Week

Relocated construction crossing and haul traffic on Highway 8

Highway 8 interchange construction remains active with lots of activity continuing over the winter months. The location of the signalized construction crossing is expected to move west in the coming weeks, and haul truck traffic between the construction crossing (near 101 Street S.W.) and Lott Creek Boulevard is expected to increase.

*Looking east at excavation for the Highway 8 interchange*

All work is weather dependent. 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.

Work Progresses

After pouring the final girder segment late last year, the temporary supports around the pier have been removed and work on the guardrail and deck is underway.

*View from the south side of the Bow River at the Stoney Trail bridges in February 2023*

*View from the south bridge abutment in February 2022*

Quality Control

While inspections continue, work on the North project has slowed for the winter. These inspections ensure that the built infrastructure complies with required specification and design standards.

*Measuring the distance between the painted shoulder line and the edge of pavement*

*Measuring the distance between an overhead sign base and the edge of pavement*

*Measuring the height of an overhead sign base*

Steel Girders Going Up on Highway 8 Flyover

The structure for the northbound Stoney Trail to westbound Highway 8 movement is called a flyover or overpass. Historically, the term bridge was used for structures that connected two points over a natural obstruction like a river or valley. Whereas flyover is meant for structures used to get over other man-made infrastructure in congested areas. Today, the term flyover is typically associated with high-level structures that are often single-directional.

Steel girders are often used on bridges with longer spans (the distance between supports) instead of concrete girders because they can support the load of a longer span than concrete girders of the same height.

This flyover structure is approximately 225 metres long. There are four girder lines, and each line consists of eight girder segments (32 girder segments in total).

*Looking west at piers for the westbound Highway 8 flyover*

*Girder segments are stored on-site as they arrive*

*Girder pieces are joined using steel bracing and cleaned before being lifted onto the piers*

*Hoisting cables are attached to a girder segment for a test lift*

Once the girder segments are in place, they are bolted together in the air using scaffolding. This activity cannot be completed during windy weather, nor can it be paused once it has begun. As a result, some extended work hours may be required.