This release was issued under a previous government.
This $1.42 billion portion of the freeway runs from Yellowhead Trail on the west side of Edmonton to Manning Drive and improves safety and travel time for both residents and businesses.
“Northwest Anthony Henday Drive will change the way people travel in the area and will almost immediately reduce traffic congestion,” said Ray Danyluk, Minister of Alberta Transportation. “The opening of this roadway also marks another step towards our goal of 800 kilometres of free flow traffic from Nanton to Grande Prairie.”
Construction of the northwest leg began in fall 2008. The project is completely free flow and includes eight interchanges, five flyovers and two rail crossings, for a total of 27 bridge structures. With the opening of this leg, the freeway is 90 per cent complete and travellers have access to a total of 69 kilometres of free flow on Anthony Henday Drive.
Northwest Anthony Henday Drive is the single largest P3 (public-private partnership) transportation investment to date for the Government of Alberta. The government entered into a long-term contract with NORTHWESTCONNECT General Partnership to design, finance, build and maintain this portion of freeway. This approach created significant cost savings for taxpayers, a 30-year warranty for the work, and completion of the project earlier than conventional delivery.
"We are proud to have worked in such a constructive partnership with the Government of Alberta to hand over this important piece of the province's infrastructure on time and on budget, along with our consortium partners, Flatiron, Graham, Parsons, Carmacks and Infrared,” said Damian Joy, President and CEO of Bilfinger Berger Project Investments Inc. and NORTHWESTCONNECT representative. “By having private capital at risk, the consortium has strong incentive to deliver on time and to ensure the continuing availability of this freeway.”
The new construction will benefit more than 30,000 motorists who will use this portion of the ring road daily, as well as the trucking industry which uses the freeway as a vital route for shipping and receiving goods. For more information on the ring road, visit www.transportation.alberta.ca.
Note: Four interchanges on the Southwest stretch of the ring road (immediately adjacent to the Northwest portion) are scheduled to open in November — Callingwood Road, Lessard Road, Stony Plain Road and Cameron Heights interchanges.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
|
Alison Burns, Communications |
Hal Beauclair, Project Director |
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
Backgrounder
Map of northwest Anthony Henday Drive
Project value: $1.42 billion
Project facts and stats
- Construction includes 21 kilometres of mainline freeway, eight interchanges, five flyovers and two rail crossings, for a total of 27 bridge structures.
- Over 2.7 million man-hours spent on project.
- 14 million cubic metres of earth moved.
- 50,000 cubic metres of concrete poured and four million tonnes of aggregate used.
- 36,000 lineal meters of piling.
- 2,000 light poles erected next to roadway.
- 350 kilometers of line painted.
- Mainline is three lanes each direction from Yellowhead Trail to Campbell Road and two lanes each way from Campbell Road to Manning Drive.
- Contractor: NORTHWESTCONNECT General Partnership
Media inquiries may be directed to:
|
Alison Burns, Communications |
Hal Beauclair, Project Director |
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.