Glenmore Trail should be free-flowing by the end of the year with the help of a temporary bridge, according to a city alderman.
Ward 11 Ald. Brian Pincott said he expects construction on the approximately $40-million quick fix to begin in spring and be done by fall, putting a temporary bridge at 37 Street and Glenmore Trail SW until work on an interchange can begin in 2011.
“This is really important and will really help ease traffic on Glenmore until the interchange can be built, which is the ultimate goal,” Pincott said, adding it will ease the flow of traffic by eliminating the need for a stop light.
Pincott acknowledged the temporary bridge isn’t going to help Lakeview residents in the short term as much as the long term when the actual interchange is completed, but he was impressed with the quick turnaround of the project.
“We just approved this last July and now, less than 10 months later, it’s getting started,” Pincott added. “That’s great, it’s been really fast moving and motorists will be very happy with that.”
Jennifer De Vries, spokesperson for transportation infrastructure, said there will be some road disruptions during the construction period, but it would be during “non-peak hours” like mid-day, evenings and weekends. De Vries encourages area residents to attend an open house about the project on March 23 between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Bethany Chapel on Richardson Way SW.
Council approved funding for the future interchange as a last year when the ring road deal with the Tsuu T’ina nation fell through as a “Plan-B.”
