Project Update - West Calgary Ring Road

November 24, 2023

Shifting to Periodic Updates

As work on the project slows, so will the frequency of project updates. Nearly 2,900 subscribers have followed the project with us for the last four years and 174 updates (175 now!). We have received many questions, suggestions and thanks from you – the readers – and we are appreciative and grateful for your interest and support. Thank you.

We will continue to share progress intermittently and traffic changes as they arise.

*Looking southeast at the Highway 8 interchange on November 8, 2023*

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.

Bridge Rehabilitation Ongoing

Inside lane closures and a reduced speed limit remain in place on northbound and southbound Stoney Trail over the Bow River while rehabilitation work continues.

*Looking northeast at the Stoney Trail bridges over the Bow River on November 17, 2023*

Under the bridge, drainage improvements, earthworks, wildlife fencing installation and other works are ongoing.

*Site remediation on the south side of the Bow River continues*

New Pathway Connection Opening Soon

The pathway near the top of the slope (shown in green on the map) is open and the new pathway switchback (shown in orange) has been paved and is anticipated to open in the coming weeks. The pathway switchback provides access down the steep slope at an appropriate grade. For those wanting a more direct route, the permanent staircase installed at the beginning of the project will remain.

*Looking west at the re-opened pathway previously closed for storm event repairs*

*The switchback provides a gentle grade to get down the slope to the Bow River Pathway system*

Repairing Stormwater Infrastructure

In early July, a series of significant storms brought heavy precipitation to the project. Unfortunately, much of the stormwater management system had recently been seeded and the vegetation hadn’t had a chance to fully establish itself. As a result, several areas were eroded and large volumes of soil (including the topsoil that had just been placed for the vegetation) were deposited into the stormwater ponds.

Repairs to the stormwater infrastructure are happening across the project site, including removing silt from the ponds and re-grading pond side slopes, replacing rip rap and re-seeding. Work is expected to continue into 2024.

*High stormwater volumes in the drainage channels north of 1 Avenue S.W.*

*Despite erosion control mats, stormwater eroded this slope and created an overflow channel (on the right)*

*Heavy precipitation erodes a newly seeded drainage channel southwest of the Trans-Canada Highway*

*Stormwater erosion on the embankment between two bridges*

Drainage in the Springbank Ravine

The drainage culvert through the Bow Trail S.W. interchange stretches more than half a kilometre (660 linear metres) and conveys stormwater along its natural drainage course in the Springbank ravine. Treated stormwater from the storm ponds south of the interchange also returns to the natural drainage course in the ravine.

The drainage channel from the stormwater pond east of Stoney Trail is lined with filter fabric and rip rap to catch sediment and debris as the stormwater flows into the ravine.