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Major South Edmonton Roadway Project Moves Forward
Monday, 03 March 2008 19:05
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Located in South Edmonton, the intersection at 23 Avenue and Gateway Boulevard/Calgary Trail has been rated as one of the most congested and collision prone intersections in Edmonton. The intersection serves daily commute traffic, airport traffic, local business traffic, as well as transport truck, bike and pedestrian traffic. Approximately 100,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day and the existing design of the intersection can no longer handle this level of use.

The City of Edmonton Transportation and Streets Department has identified the need for this interchange for many years. The 1999 City of Edmonton Transportation Master Plan (TMP) recommends that the Gateway Boulevard/ Calgary Trail Corridor between 23 Avenue and the south city limit be upgraded to a full free-flow standard. This includes a grade separation at 23 Avenue. A Concept Planning Study conducted in 2002/2003 recommended a split diamond interchange at 23 Avenue and Gateway Boulevard/ Calgary Trail.

In September of 2003 City Council approved the Concept Planning Study and in December 2003 approved funding for the detailed design of the interchange, land acquisition and the design and construction of the storm drainage tunnel. In early 2004, the City of Edmonton retained Team ISL for the Preliminary Design, Detailed Design and Construction Administration of the 23 Avenue/Gateway Boulevard Interchange project.

In April 2005, City Council approved funding for the interchange, with an estimated budget of $107 million.

In May 2006 City Council was advised that the cost of the interchange had now grown to $125 million (in 2006 dollars based on 2006 construction prices). In April 2007, City Council was advised that the cost of the interchange had grown to $260 million (in 2007 dollars based on 2007 construction prices). In late August 2007, City Council approved the construction of the interchange.

The new interchange will improve vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety and will reduce traffic delays. The new interchange will also have the capacity to accommodate increased traffic as South Edmonton continues to grow, with the completion of the South Edmonton Common commercial area and the development of new residential areas.

The interchange will feature:

  • A split diamond interchange with 23 Avenue going over Gateway Boulevard/Calgary Trail and the CP Railway, with Gateway Boulevard/Calgary Trail remaining at the existing elevation. The split-diamond configuration is an effective means of accommodating the high volumes of left-turning traffic at the intersection.
  • Due to space constraints, extensive use of retaining walls instead of slopes, to build the interchange ramps.
  • Noise walls, as identified in the Concept Planning Study, for the southwest quadrant of the interchange.
  • Replacement of the existing at-grade signalized intersection at 19 Avenue with a grade separated ramp. Northbound and southbound traffic will have access, but much like the existing condition, there will not be a left-hand turn from 19 Avenue to go south on Calgary Trail.
  • Widening of 23 Avenue to 6 lanes from 105 Street to Parsons Road.
  • A 2,920mm diameter storm drainage tunnel to allow stormwater conveyance and storage. Construction of this tunnel is  complete.
  • A multi-use trail will be provided along the north side of 23 Avenue, in addition to a sidewalk along the south side of 23 Avenue.
  • Land acquisition is complete.

The detailed design of the interchange was completed in April 2007. Utility relocations, including the replacement and re-alignment of a series of major oil and gas pipelines is complete. Construction of the major interchange is scheduled for a four year period from October 2007 through 2011. The majority of interchange construction is expected to be complete in the first three years and the interchange is expected to be functional by the end of 2010. In 2011, the grades and cross-sections of the Gateway Boulevard and Calgary Trail roadways through the interchange area will be modified, thereby completing the work. 2008 construction began on April 2, 2008. See the icon 23 Ave 2010 Construction Schedule (131.15 kB) for more information.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 08:26