Officials with the Alberta government, and the City of Leduc released preliminary designs for a new interchange on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway at 65 Avenue in Leduc.

The plan is to change the existing flyover north of 65 Avenue, to create a second entrance to the Edmonton International Airport and a new mall near the airport that is currently under construction.

“The new interchange will cross QE2 and connect Leduc’s 65 Avenue to the massive new airport development at the Edmonton International Airport perimeter road,” Transportation Minister Brian Mason said.

It’s hoped the interchange will also allow traffic to access the QE2 in both directions.

“We have quite a few companies that want to come to this region, they just need some certainty that sometime in the future they’re actually going to see that interchange take place,” Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke said.

The province said Friday that detailed designs will cost $3.6 million, and that cost will be shared by the Alberta government, the City of Leduc and the Edmonton International Airport. Each is expected to contribute $1.2 million.

Officials said the province is working to select an engineering consultant for the project.

The design process is expected to take two years to complete; it isn’t clear how long it would take to complete the interchange.

With files from Amanda Anderson