PCL Construction wins $48M contract to replace, widen and build Stoney Trail bridges

Edmonton-basedPCL Construction has won a $48-millioncontract 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 planstoreplace the eastbound bridge, widen thewestbound bridge and build a new, stand-alone pedestrian bridgeover the Bow River in southeast Calgary.

The project will boost the number of lanes to four in each direction currently the eastbound crossing hastwo 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 forPCL Calgary.

"Once complete, this segment will be safer for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians."

Construction is slated to begin on the bridgesin spring 2021, and is projected to becompleted in late 2023.

Safer, faster rides

About 53,000 vehicles use the existing South Bow River Bridge daily, according to the province.

Provincial engineers determinedthe 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 McIversaid 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 relocationshas 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."