“This project is part of our plan to improve the most congested areas of Deerfoot Trail first to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times. Upgrades at 64 Avenue and McKnight Boulevard will be the first in a series of projects to address the most critical areas for improvement on the Deerfoot.”

Prasad Panda, Minister of Transportation

Alberta Transportation posted the tender for work on 64 Avenue and McKnight Boulevard on Aug. 18. Construction will begin in fall 2022 and is projected to take about a year to complete.

On July 12, the government announced it was cancelling the public-private partnership (P3) approach to upgrading Deerfoot Trail due to escalating costs. Improvements to Deerfoot Trail will now be completed in smaller bundles, prioritizing work on the most congested areas of the highway.

Quick facts

  • The 64 Avenue and McKnight Boulevard project will include:
    • an auxiliary lane between McKnight Boulevard and 64 Avenue
    • interchange improvements through ramp reconfiguration at the 64 Avenue interchange
  • Tenders for future Deerfoot Trail improvements will include:
    • interchange ramp reconfigurations
    • widening and adding travel lanes
    • improving crossroad connections
  • These projects are expected to be tendered individually, with construction planned for 2023.
  • Deerfoot Trail is a major north-south freeway in Calgary that handles 180,000 vehicles per day.