The city has marked a milestone in the construction of the west leg of the LRT line: work is beginning on the elevated portion of the line.
The 1.5 kilometre long structure will be Calgary's first elevated LRT guide way. It will feature Sunalta Station, which at 14 metres above ground will be Calgary's first elevated LRT Station.
On Wednesday, with a small handheld controller, Mayor Dave Bronconnier lifted the first precast segment of the west LRT's elevated guide way.
"This is a P3 project in terms of engaging the private sector to deliver on a program that I believe is moving forward at lightning speed," said Bronconnier.
The provincial government is one of the partners financially backing the west LRT project.
"This project, when completed, will see six new stations and two new park and ride lots serving approximately 90,000 people - Calgarians in our western communities," said MLA Calgary Bow, Alana Delong.
Since March 2010, the design-builder, SNC-Lavalin and its partners, have proceeded with roadwork and the relocation and installation of new underground utilities. Excavation work is progressing on schedule at Westbrook for the future underground station, along 17 Avenue SW for the trench section, and for the 45 Street Station.
The construction of the interchange at Sarcee Trail and 17 Avenue SW is also well underway. The new park and ride facility at Sirocco Drive opened in June 2010 while construction of the West Calgary High School is now over 50 per cent complete and on schedule for the September 2011 opening.
SNC-Lavalin says the truss technology used in constructing the west leg of the LRT has been used in other transit construction projects in North America.
"The crane here was previously used in Vancouver, now it's in Calgary for this job and I just welcome more projects like this in Calgary. The crane could be moved to a similar site in Calgary very quickly and nicely done. It's already paid for, so you can benefit in that it will be a better price," said Pierre Duhaime, President and CEO of SNC-Lavalin.
The mayor hopes City Council takes the offer seriously and gives the green light to a southeast leg of the LRT.
"Why wouldn't we move forward in the same fashion and start delivering service to the residents of Douglasdale, McKenzie Lake, and the growing southeast at the same time you have crews available, you have the expertise, and now with the provincial government announcing the Green TRIP funding, why not?" questioned Bronconnier.
Beginning west of downtown, the eight kilometre long west LRT line will proceed west along Bow Trail and 17 Avenue, stopping at 69 Street SW. It's scheduled to open December 2012.
With the opening of the Crowfoot Station in June 2009, Calgary's LRT network currently encompasses 38 LRT stations and 44 kilometres of track. When the west leg of the LRT is complete, the size of Calgary's LRT system will have doubled in just over a decade.
You can check out the progress of the new LRT line at www.westlrt.ca.
