The City of Edmonton is hoping a federal funding program will be the answer to tackling the Yellowhead Trail’s transition into a freeway.
A report set to go before the City’s Executive Committee next week indicates up to one-third of the costs could be covered by the Building Canada Fund. The suggestion was also proposed to the Transportation Committee last September.
According to Ward 1 councillor Andrew Knack, it is simply a matter of directing administration to move forward and develop the application.
“I think it is only a matter of when, not if, we do this project and how we do it the best way possible,” he told CTV News.
“Without this funding you wouldn’t see this being done nearly as soon. You would probably see a couple of key intersections focused on instead of the entire Yellowhead, and that is the big difference. We have that opportunity to go and do the entire Yellowhead.”
The entire project has been estimated to cost $687 million.
Knack said the rest of the funding could come from the province and also from the region.
“Having a free flowing Yellowhead is good for the entire Edmonton region so this would be an example of a project that I think we would like to see all of the Edmonton region get on board with.”
Knack also said tackling the entire roadway would mean minimal disruptions for traffic.
“You are going to tender out to companies who will do the entire project versus one intersection at a time.
“There is also concern for doing it one intersection at a time that you are going to just create delay after delay after delay for construction because it is not going to be continuous.”
The report will be presented to the committee on Tuesday.
With files from Nicole Weisberg, Julia Parrish
