Calgary Southwest Ring Road (Tsuu T'ina Trail)

under construction

Opportunity The Government of Alberta and City of Calgary began planning the Calgary Ring Road (CRR) more than forty years ago. During the 1980s and 1990s the province purchased most of the lands that would be required for ring road. As Calgary’s regional population has rapidly expanded—from 325,000 in 1973 to more than 1.36 million in 2013—the project became an increasingly important priority in order to reduce congestion and provide more effective routes for commercial vehicles taking goods across the province. Currently more than 70 per cent of the ring road is in operation. While the northwest portion was completed using traditional procurement the northeast and southeast sections—known as Stoney Trail—were both successfully completed on-time and on-budget using public-private partnerships. The federal government is supporting the project with $582.9 million in funding from the New Buildings Canada Plan. Preliminary construction work began on July 8, 2016. Innovations In 2013 a historic agreement with the Tsuu T’ina Nation was signed, setting the groundwork for the southwest leg of the CRR. The agreement allows for the exchange of money and land, so the last portion can be built on what was historically Tsuut’ina reserve. The project has been divided into two main segments: Priority New Infrastructure (PNI), which is passing through Tsuu’tina reserve lands and Remaining New Infrastructure (RNI). PNI must target traffic availability one year before RNI. If PNI is not completed by October 1, 2020 the land is to be turned back to the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Province will have to pay for the removal of any structures on the land and the Tsuut’ina will keep all compensation they initially received for the land.  Results The project will involve the design and construction of approximately 31 kilometres of new six and eight-lane divided freeway with 14 interchanges, one flyover, one grade-separated railway crossing, three river crossings and a 30 year operating, maintenance and rehabilitation agreement.

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