Alberta steers away from P3 funding for Deerfoot improvements
The province has announced it's changing its funding approach as it plans major improvements for Calgary's Deerfoot Trail.
Much of the popular thoroughfare was constructed in the 1970s and the city's population has since tripled, prompting the need for redevelopment.
The north-south roadway is maintained by Alberta Transportation, and the province is investing $210 million to upgrade priority areas identified in a 2020 Deerfoot Trail Corridor Study.
Though the government had previous announced it would be funding the upgrades through a public-private partnership (P3), a change in plans was revealed on Tuesday.
"We committed that we would only pursue P3s when we found value for taxpayer money," Transportation Minister Prasad Panda said in a statement.
"Current economic conditions have resulted in pricing volatility and historically high inflation in the construction industry, which means a P3 approach to Deerfoot Trail improvements is not economically viable."
Instead, the government is opting to "procure the improvements in smaller pieces."
"While the government is not going ahead with a P3 approach, we remain committed to making improvements to Alberta’s busiest highway and will move ahead with the necessary upgrades to help people get to their destinations safely and more efficiently," Panda said.
According to the province, approximately 180,000 vehicles use the Deerfoot Trail daily.
- Previously announced Improvements to the roadway include:
- Twinning Ivor Strong Bridge;
- Improving Anderson Road/Bow Bottom Trail Interchange;
- Twinning the bridge over Glenmore Trail;
- Reconfiguring the 17 Avenue S.E. and Memorial Drive Interchanges and eliminating weaving traffic; and
- Widening between 17 Avenue S.E. and Airport Trail to four lanes in each direction.
"We will focus on improving the most congested areas on the highway first to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times for commuters in the Calgary region. Work is underway to identify the most critical areas for improvement that can be tendered and completed as quickly as possible," Panda said.
NDP Transportation Critic Lorne Dach says the cancellation of the P3 is "good news for Calgarians" who will now be "spared from having to pay tolls."
"The UCP should immediately drop the P3 approach from all projects they are pursuing for schools and hospitals and road improvement," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm off Mexico and threatens Florida, forecasters say.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
Hurricane Milton has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm. What does that mean?
Hurricane Milton quickly intensified to a Category 5 storm on Monday, reaching the most dangerous rank on what's known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Canadian soldier wins compensation for cancer linked to burn pits after Veterans Affairs denied claim
A Canadian soldier who was exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits while serving in Afghanistan has been awarded full medical compensation for testicular cancer after Veterans Affairs initially denied his claim.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Senior charged after minivan set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall
The day after a minivan was set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall, a 78-year-old man has been criminally charged.
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother and a Grammy-winning singer, dies at 91
Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91.
A Canadian woman was recently diagnosed with scurvy. Here are the factors tied to the disease
Scurvy is not just an archaic diagnosis of 18th-century seafarers and doctors should watch for possible cases, according to researchers following a recent case.