PCL Construction wins $48M contract to replace, widen and build Stoney Trail bridges
Work projected to begin this spring and be completed in late 2023, province says
Edmonton-based PCL Construction has won a $48-million contract to upgrade the Stoney Trail bridges over the Bow River in southeast Calgary, the Alberta government said Friday in a news release.
Last fall, the government announced plans to replace the eastbound bridge, widen the westbound bridge and build a new, stand-alone pedestrian bridge over the Bow River in southeast Calgary.
The project will boost the number of lanes to four in each direction — currently the eastbound crossing has two lanes, while the westbound has three.
"PCL is excited to work with Alberta Transportation on this component of the Stoney Trail Calgary ring road, a key project to connect Calgarians," said Ankur Talwar, the manager of civil operations for PCL Calgary.
"Once complete, this segment will be safer for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians."
Construction is slated to begin on the bridges in spring 2021, and is projected to be completed in late 2023.
Safer, faster rides
About 53,000 vehicles use the existing South Bow River Bridge daily, according to the province.
Provincial engineers determined the current width and lane configuration will not be sufficient for the higher traffic volume that is anticipated once the southwest ring road is fully complete next year, Transportation Minister Ric McIver said in September.
Eastbound and westbound traffic will share the westbound bridge while the new eastbound bridge is constructed.
The Alberta government first estimated the project would cost $70 million in total, but said Friday the total estimated cost — which includes engineering and utility relocations — has decreased to $60 million.
"With the next step in this strategic project complete, we are creating hundreds of jobs to drive Alberta's recovery and saving taxpayer dollars at a time of fiscal restraint," McIver said in Friday's press release.
"Calgarians can look forward to safer and faster rides on an even more complete Calgary ring road."
