Construction is well underway on the extension of 96 Avenue N.E., a regional pathway and improvements to the Airport Tr./Deerfoot Tr. interchange.
Construction update
Construction activities in 2011 included construction of the CP Railway and Nose Creek bridge structures, construction of the roadway and Regional pathways, and re-construction of the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange ramps.
The City of Calgary would like to remind residents that the 96 Avenue N.E. right-of-way from Harvest Hills Link to Deerfoot Trail is a heavy construction site. As such, members of the public need to avoid the area for their own safety. Residents east of Harvest Hills Link wishing to access the south side of 96 Avenue should use the existing intersection at Harvest Hills Link.
For everyone's safety please obey all signage, speed limits and any other posted restrictions for the duration of this construction project.
To accommodate ongoing interchange upgrade construction, reduced speed zones will be in effect for Airport Trail and ramps to and from Deerfoot Trail.
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Project scope
- Construction of a six-lane extension of 96 Avenue N.E. from Harvest Hills Link east to Deerfoot Trail.
- Construction of three bridge structures—one over the CP Railway tracks and two over Nose Creek.
- Improvements to the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange (owned by Alberta Transportation/Provincial Government).
- Construction of a Regional Pathway from the Harvest Hills community east and across Deerfoot Trail.
- Construction a new noise barrier on the north side of 96 Avenue N.E. from Harvest Gold Manor east to 6 Street N.E..
- Construction of a stormwater connection from 96 Avenue N.E. to the Aurora Business Park wetland.
Project timeline
- Noise barrier was completed in 2010.
- Roadway and bridge structure construction began in the summer of 2010.
- Scheduled completion of the road extension, Regional pathways and interchange upgrade is fall 2012.
Project background
Calgary's high level of population growth in recent years has created an increased demand on existing road infrastructure. In response, The City completed a Transportation Planning Study in 2007 for a proposed connection of 96 Avenue N.E. from Harvest Hills Link to Deerfoot Trail, a reconfiguration of the existing Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange to provide for all traffic movements, and the building of a Regional Pathway. The scope of the Study was to develop plans for extending 96 Avenue N.E. east of Harvest Hills Link across the CP Railway tracks and Nose Creek and connect to the west end of the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange.
96 Avenue N.E. is a key east–west transportation corridor within the city of Calgary and is identified as an "Arterial Street" in the Calgary Transportation Plan. It is currently developed as a four lane major road from Harvest Hills Boulevard to Harvest Hills Link and is undeveloped east of Harvest Hills Link to Deerfoot Trail. Alberta Transportation has responsibility for the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange; however, this portion of the project is a cooperative effort between The City of Calgary and Alberta Transportation. The roadway extension of 96 Avenue N.E. and the improvements at the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange will proceed concurrently.
Environmental stewardship
As part of the Transportation Planning Study, an environmental review was completed. Field investigation included a vegetation, wildlife and fisheries survey of the study area. A number of environmental approvals have been identified as required.
As part of its commitment to protect the environment and conserve natural resources, The City has been working with general contractor to protect an active Robin's nest that was discovered this spring near the top of a scaffolding unit. Read about it in this Calgary City News Blog post.
CP Railway and Nose Creek Crossings
The CP Railway bridge structure is designed to clear-span the required railway right-of-way, providing for a total of four railway tracks and for a possible high speed rail line.
The Nose Creek bridge structures are designed to be 40 metres in length. This is required to minimize impacts and to allow for wildlife passage and a regional pathway beneath the structure. The crossing structure will require approval by Navigable Waters and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
Regional pathway
96 Avenue N.E. has been identified as an important link between existing and planned Multi-Use and Regional Pathway networks. It will ultimately connect pathways west of the CP Railway tracks with pathways east of Deerfoot Trail and along Nose Creek.
New bridge structures over CP Railway and Nose Creek will include a three metre wide pathway which will have a 1.4 metre high railing incorporating a mid rail and vertical bar design. Vehicular traffic will be separated from the pathway by a concrete safety barrier. The structures will also incorporate the City standard wide curb lane, providing additional pavement width for on-street bicycle traffic.
Preliminary grading for a pathway ramp will be constructed on the north side of the embankment between the CP Railway bridge and the Nose Creek bridge. In the future, this ramp will provide access to a Regional Pathway running parallel to Nose Creek.
As part of the improvements being made to the Airport Trail/Deerfoot Trail interchange, the Regional Pathway will be retrofitted into the existing underpass structure, and the streetlight system will be improved.
Noise barrier and screening walls
The area immediately to the south of 96 Avenue N.E. is slowly under development (i.e. Harvest Hills Crossing, Aurora Business Park). Once developed it is anticipated this business area will generate significant traffic volumes. Existing volumes on Airport Trail between Deerfoot Trail and Barlow Trail are 16,000 vehicles per day. The Traffic Impact Assessment for the Aurora Business Park indicates that the volumes on 96 Avenue N.E. could increase to approximately 40,000 vehicles per day.
A noise analysis was completed as part of the Transportation Planning Study and the results indicated that noise mitigation was required for the adjacent residences on the north side of 96 Avenue. It is anticipated that significant traffic volumes will be generated with the future development of business parks on the south side of 96 Avenue and with the establishment of direct access to Deerfoot Trail and Airport Trail. The installation of a noise barrier began in late summer 2009, with final completion in 2010.
More information
Transportation Infrastructure is committed to keeping citizens informed about this project, and details will be updated on this site on an ongoing basis. For more information, please fill out the online form or call 3-1-1.
Related documents
