Airport Trail N.E. - Phase 2

About the project

Airport Trail N.E. is an important transportation corridor running east-west across the northeast quadrant of Calgary and is a significant part of the city's primary goods movement and primary transit network. It provides access to and from YYC Calgary International Airport and connectivity to communities and commercial areas in northeast Calgary.

Airport Trail - Phase 2 involves three stages:

Stage 1 - Airport Trail Extension

The Airport Trail Extension between 36 Street and 60 Street N.E. will provide motorists travelling to and from northeast Calgary with an excellent connection to Stoney Trail N.E. The roadway between Metis Trail and 60 Street was opened to traffic in December 2019, and the roadway between Metis Trail and 36 Street N.E. will open to traffic in September 2021.

Stage 2 - New interchanges at 19 Street N.E. and Barlow Trail

Major construction activities of the two new interchanges are underway.

Stage 3 - New southbound Stoney Trail to westbound Airport Trail ramp

This construction is complete and the ramp is now open.

All three stages of this project will be opened to traffic in 2022.

Airport Trail - Phase 1 was completed in May 2014 with the opening of the 620 metre, six lane tunnel under the new Airport runway. Along with the Airport Trail tunnel, the phase included widening of Airport Trail from four to six lanes between Barlow Trail and Deerfoot Trail.

Planning and development related to the Airport Trail N.E. corridor has been underway since 1994, the year a preliminary feasibility study was commissioned by the City of Calgary. The corridor is intended to function as a continuous roadway connection between Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail, accommodating traffic as part of Calgary's primary goods movement and primary transit networks.

The City's functional planning study for Airport Trail N.E. from Deerfoot Trail to Stoney Trail identifies the medium and long-term transportation requirements, and has developed an access management strategy for the Airport Trail corridor. This functional planning study was approved by City Council in December 2012; it was further refined by the Airport Trail Functional Plan Update, completed in 2017.

On November 6, 2017, the Airport Trail - Phase 2 project was submitted for formal consideration under the first round of National Trade Corridors Fund grant program. The submission was successful, and on July 6, 2018, the Federal Government announced a commitment of $50 million. The Government of Alberta has committed $27.7 million towards this project and the Calgary Airport Authority is committing $20 million towards the construction of the interchanges.

Completion of Airport Trail - Phase 2 will result in these benefits:

• Constructing the 'missing link' on Airport Trail between 36 Street N.E. and 60 Street N.E. thereby connecting Deerfoot Trail to Stoney Trail.
• Improved access to-and-from the Calgary International Airport
• Access to Airport Trail from southbound Stoney Trail.

The new interchanges will effectively manage the movement of goods, services, and people on Airport Trail into and out of YYC Calgary International Airport, and adjacent airport-related developments.

Before and after construction

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