Life could soon get a little easier for motorists who are stuck in rush hour traffic along the southwest corner of Anthony Henday Drive, the federal and provincial governments announced yesterday.
Both levels of government said shovels would be put into the ground as soon as this summer to build two interchanges at Callingwood Road and Lessard Road, while doing away with the existing traffic lights at those intersections.
But the costs of the projects have yet to be determined, as both levels are trying to find a contractor to build the interchanges over the next three weeks, said Heather Kaszuba, a spokeswoman with Alberta Transportation.
Ottawa and the province have agreed to evenly share in the costs of building the projects, which could mean thousands of jobs for Edmonton’s economy, said Federal Labour Minister Rona Ambrose in a press release.
“These interchanges will help create and provide an economic boost for families in Edmonton,” said Ambrose.
Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette said design work is also underway to build an interchange at Cameron Heights Drive — the final set of traffic lights on Anthony Henday Drive.
Roughly 40,000 vehicles drive through the southwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive each day, says the provincial government.
