New Airdrie interchange on QEII Highway to cost $83M

A new interchange linking Airdrie to the Queen Elizabeth Highway that the city has long lobbied for is going ahead, officials announced Thursday.

The $83-million interchange and bridge will be built at the QEIIHighway and 40th Avenue.

The province will contribute up to $21.1 million and the City of Airdrie is putting upabout $62 million toward the project.

"We've been advocating for this bridge for more than a decade now," said Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown.

He said traffic congestion and insufficient access to Highway 2has been constant frustration for drivers in the fast-growing city of 70,000 people.

The province says the traffic volumeon QEIInear 40th Avenue is about 85,000 vehicles per day, including 7,000 commercial vehicles. And traffic has increased by about 30 per cent since 2014.

Preliminary work, including acquiring rights-of-way and moving utilities, is already underway, said Transportation Minister Ric McIver.

"This project will benefit families and communities in Airdrie as the city continues to grow," he said.

Construction on the interchange and bridge over the highway is expected to begin in 2021-22 and be complete by 2024.

"Building this interchange now will create over 300 jobs and make life easier for all Albertans who drive the QEII," said Kenney.