A preview of Edmonton's 2022 construction season: First big steps to be taken on Valley Line West and more
The final construction season of the city's four-year budget cycle will kick off a number of big projects.
On Friday, city officials revealed their plan for the season, including an estimated budget of $1.9 billion for some 250 projects.
Crews this year are expected to work on more than 110 kilometres of local roadways and sidewalks, 10 neighbourhood renewal projects and more than a dozen park and playground projects, and finish five supportive housing projects.
They'll also dig into some massive infrastructure endeavors, like Valley Line West, which is expected to take five to six years to complete, and the widening of 50 Street and building of an overpass between Sherwood Park Freeway and 90 Avenue. The latter aren't expected to be completed until 2026. The first steps on Capital Line South's extension will also be taken, although the line's construction isn't slated to start until late 2023.
"There are some significant city-shaping projects that are happening and it's a reflection of the ambitious infrastructure agenda that council has," Adam Loughlin, the city's deputy manager of integrated infrastructure services, commented.
As well, the first of two years of construction started in May on 124 Street. The blocks between 109A Avenue and 118 Avenue are due to get a new boulevard with trees, improved streetscaping and intersections, and road renewal.
Jasper Avenue residents will soon see work start to replace Latta Bridge northeast of 91 Street, a sister project to the Kinnard Bridge rehabilitation. Latta Bridge will be finished in 2023.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Construction will resume this year on both Yellowhead Trail and Terwillegar Drive – as will the delays. Stage 1 of expanding the route to four lanes in each direction caused major delays in 2021.
Laughlin promised the city was doing its best to minimize the impact felt by commuters.
"You'll see larger traffic accommodation projects. So the 50 Street grade separation, we actually have built a detour road to accommodate the traffic while we build it.The utility work and some of the early work on Valley Line West, there's major adjustments to traffic patterns there," he pointed out.
Laughlin reminded Edmontonians the city has a map that provides information about road closures, travel delays, and construction project schedules.
Additionally, construction that began in 2021 on the Glenora Bridge rehabilitation, affecting traffic on 107 Avenue at Groat Road, is expected to be finished this year.
So is the 103 Avenue Streetscape, where Friday's news conference was held. That project aims to enhance the block between 100 Street and 101 through new curbing, gutters and sidewalks, surface paving and landscaping, and new pedestrian traffic signals and street lights.
"It's a smaller project in comparison to some of the others I mentioned," Laughlin said, "but the impact it will have is big and the benefits will spread beyond these two blocks."
The schedule mirrors previous years in the number of projects and dollars spent. The 2021 construction season totalled roughly $1 billion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.