Every day, thousands of Albertans rely on Deerfoot Trail as the major north-south route through Calgary and as an important trade corridor for moving goods across the province. To improve the commutes of Calgarians, visitors and truckers, Alberta’s government is targeting key bottlenecks on Deerfoot Trail between Glenmore Trail and Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail in a large expansion project.
“Improving Deerfoot Trail will make the commutes of Calgarians easier, safer and faster. These upgrades are overdue and I’m so pleased to see the request for proposals move forward. Whether it’s the teacher, construction worker or family saving time on their commute, an ambulance getting to a patient faster or a truck delivering goods with ease, the interchanges and additional lanes will have a positive impact.”
“I’m excited to announce this big upgrade to the Deerfoot Trail. Our goal is to significantly increase capacity at several highway choke points to cut down on congestion. Faster commutes, less panic getting kids to school or practice, quicker trips for groceries, less stress – hopefully it makes life a little bit better for everyone in Calgary.”
Improvements to this section of Deerfoot Trail will enhance safety and, when completed, are expected to reduce driver commutes by about 15 per cent during peak morning travel hours and by about 22 per cent during peak evening travel hours. In total, the upgrades mean travellers will save about 900,000 hours a year, which will provide an annual economic boost of about $23 million.
“Nearly 200,000 Calgarians use Deerfoot Trail every single day to get to work, school or to their recreational activities. I’m glad to see our government is taking action to address some of the biggest issues that contribute to traffic jams and commuter delays. These intersection upgrades and roadway expansions will mean improved traffic flow and reduced travel times for drivers. That means more time to spend with family and friends and less time stuck in traffic.”
The Deerfoot Trail expansion project will include:
- Improving the Bow Bottom Trail and Anderson Road, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail interchanges.
- Seven new bridge structures at Anderson Road and Bow Bottom Trail, Bow River, Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail.
- Adding more lanes to Deerfoot Trail along the highway and through the Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trails and Glenmore Trail Interchanges.
Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has amended its existing public-private partnership procurement process to address critical improvements for this expansion. The process will continue with pre-qualified teams with the intention that the successful proponent will be selected and the contract will be awarded in spring 2023.
Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2027.
Quick facts
- Deerfoot Trail is a major north-south freeway in Calgary that handles 180,000 vehicles per day.
- Alberta’s government is also working toward completing upgrades to Deerfoot Trail between 64 Avenue and McKnight Boulevard. A tender for that project was posted in August 2022.
- Tenders for other work, including interchange ramp reconfigurations, widening and adding travel lanes, and improving crossroad connections are expected to be posted this winter.