Council committee supports progress on Airport Trail plan
City councillors signalled their support during a committee meeting Thursday for construction to move ahead on the second phase of the Airport Trail project.
Members of the transportation and transit committee accepted administration recommendations to approve $38.15 million for the project and to move forward with securing the remaining land needed for interchanges on Airport Trail.
The discussion followed an announcement from the federal government earlier this month of $50 million toward the project. The province also put forward $27.7 million, the city $27.5 million and the Calgary Airport Authority will contribute $20 million.
The project includes an extension of Airport Trail from 36th Street to 60th Street, construction of two interchanges at 19th Street N.E. and Barlow Trail N.E., and a ramp at Stoney Trail N.E. and Airport Trail N.E.
“Airport Trail is planned as a vital east-west corridor in Calgary,” stated a staff report that went before the committee.
“The work under this project will complete the corridor from Deerfoot Trail to Stoney Trail, will support the unimpeded flow of goods and vehicles to and from the Airport, will support the growing logistics business around the Airport, and open up new areas for development in The City ’s growing northeast.”
The total project budget is $153.35 million.
The Airport Trail tunnel, which was the first phase of the corridor, opened in May 2014.
Construction is expected to begin on the second phase as early as this September, with all work to be completed by the end of 2022.