Building safer and stronger highways

Published 2024-12-12

December 11, 2024 Media inquiries Hundreds of road and bridge projects completed in 2024 will ease traffic congestion, improve safety and enhance travel on Alberta highways. Alberta’s highways are vital.

December 11, 2024 Media inquiries

Hundreds of road and bridge projects completed in 2024 will ease traffic congestion, improve safety and enhance travel on Alberta highways.

Alberta’s highways are vital. They connect communities, facilitate economic activity and provide access to essential services. Maintaining the highway network is crucial not just for the economy, but also for ensuring safety, reducing travel times and enhancing connectivity between urban and rural areas.

During the 2024 construction season, Alberta’s government invested $818 million in more than 200 projects that facilitated the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services. Each of these projects has fueled Alberta’s economy and supported the growth of communities and industry.

“Alberta’s highways are vital to our quality of life. This year we invested $818 million in more than 200 projects to make life better for Albertans with more reliable infrastructure. These projects are about improving safety and saving time for drivers commuting to work, taking kids to practice or just enjoying the beauty of our province.” Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

“Improving the safety of Highway 3 and doubling the number of lanes to better support our economy is so important to the people of southern Alberta. We’re grateful to be delivering these improvements and creating jobs between Taber and Burdett, alongside our many industry partners.” Jeff Appelman, vice president, Highways, Ledcor

The 2024 construction season included new and ongoing major road projects, such as repaving, bridge rehabilitation and replacement, slide repairs, road expansion and water management infrastructure projects. General maintenance work included pothole repairs, crack sealing, line painting, grading gravel roads and guardrail installation. Project highlights include:

Calgary

Deerfoot Trail improvements

• Construction on the new Beddington Trail /11 Street connection was completed.
• Progress was made on McKnight Boulevard, including a fourth lane on Deerfoot Trail and interchange improvements at 16 Avenue.
• Work continued on Bow Bottom Trail/Anderson Road/Southland Drive and Glenmore Trail.
• The total estimated investment for all of the Deerfoot Trail projects, anticipated for completion in 2027, is more than $800 million.

Edmonton

Terwillegar Drive

• Progress was made to widen Terwillegar Drive to four lanes in both directions across Anthony Henday Drive to Windermere Boulevard.
• Alberta’s government is contributing $157.5 million to this City of Edmonton project.

50 Street widening and railway grade separation

• Work continued to widen 50 Street from four to six lanes and build a railway line grade separation over the railway. The northbound overpass is now complete and open to traffic.
• Alberta’s government is contributing $28.3 million to this City of Edmonton project.

Southern Alberta

Highway 3 twinning: Taber to Burdett

• Work began on twinning 46 kilometers between Taber and Burdett.
• The total estimated investment for this project is about $179 million.

Highway 1 Wildlife Overpass

• Construction was completed on the overpass and 12 kilometres of fencing west of Lac Des Arcs.
• Total estimated investment of $17.5 million.

Paving and bridge projects

• Approximately $25 million in paving projects was completed throughout southern Alberta including:
• Highway 864 near Taber
• Highway 508 near Lethbridge
• Highway 791 near Airdrie
• Highway 61 near Foremost
• Highway 2 near Okotoks

Central Alberta

Paving projects

• Approximately $45.8 million of work was finished including pavement overlays.
• Intersection and grade improvements and culvert replacements were completed on about 86 kilometres of Highways 2A, 12, 14 and 835.

Peace Region

Highways 733 and 750 paving

• Investment of $17.1 million to complete paving of 32 kilometres of Highway 733.
• Investment of $14.7 million to complete paving of 51 kilometers of Highway 750.

Peace River Arch Bridge Rehabilitation

• $29 million for ongoing work to complete rehabilitation work on the old Peace River bridge.

Highway 40 twinning

• Phase 2 to twin the remaining 10 kilometers from south of the Wapiti River is nearing completion.
• Total project investment is estimated at about $228 million.

North Central Region and Fort McMurray Region

QEII and 65 Avenue interchange

• Construction is now 80 per cent complete.
• The estimated total investment is about $112 million.

Highway 825 grade widening

• Grade widening of 8.2 kilometres of Highway 825 between north of Township Road 553 and Highway 643.
• The total estimated investment is $21.5 million.

Thin lift overlays

• Approximately $35.33 million of thin lift overlays were completed in north central Alberta on multiple highways, including Highways 14, 16A, 28, 40, 43, 55, 60, 63, 881 and 867.
• Thin-lift overlays can extend the life of existing pavement by eight to 10 years.

Water Projects

Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir

• Construction is now 90 per cent complete.
• Estimated total investment is $800 million.

Dickson Dam capacity enhancement

• Phase 2 has begun.
• The total estimated investment for this project is $40 million.

Quick facts

• Budget 2024 invested $8.1 billion over three years in Transportation and Economic Corridors’ Capital Plan, including:
• $1.9 billion in Capital Investment for planning, design and construction of roads and bridges;
• $1.7 billion in Capital Maintenance and Renewal for highway and bridge rehabilitation projects;
• $311.8 million for Water Management and flood mitigation; and,
• $4.2 billion for Capital Grants to Municipalities

Related information

• Provincial Construction Program