The southwest ring road is getting a big boost from the federal government.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Premier Rachel Notley, Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Tsuut’ina Chief Roy Whitney to announce that the federal government will contribute just over $582 million dollars to the southwest leg of the ring road.

It a project that, after 70 years of discussions, is finally moving ahead.

“The average Calgarian spends nearly an hour every day commuting to and from work. That’s almost 10 full days spent commuting every year,” said Trudeau. “That’s time better spent playing with your kids at Prince’s Island or shopping at the farmer’s market or volunteering in the community. A project like the southwest Calgary ring road will help to make that possible.”

The project is a big undertaking and Premier Notley says preliminary work is expected to begin shortly and full construction should start this fall.

“This is a tremendously complex project,” said Notley. “When complete, the southwest ring road will extend 21 kilometres from Lott Creek Boulevard on Glenmore Trail south to Macleod Trail. Improvements will be extensive including 49 bridges and 14 interchanges and three river crossings.”

Friday's federal funding amount was originally promised by the former conservative government but, until now, it was uncertain if the funding would actually go through. 

The completion of the southwest section of the ring road is anticipated for 2021.