Final section of Calgary's ring road opens to traffic on Tuesday

The final section of Calgary's ring road is set to open to traffic on Tuesday, marking the completion of the 101-kilometre freeway several months ahead of schedule, officials announced Monday.

The West Calgary section of the ring road runs from Highway 8 to the Trans-Canada Highway, covering nine kilometres of six- and eight-lane divided highway, with six interchanges and 24 bridges.

"Calgary's ring road is a project that has been decades in the making and its completion is a real cause for celebration," Premier Danielle Smith said in a release.

"With this final section completed, travelling just got a little easier for families and for workers. This will not only benefit Calgarians and residents in the metro region, it will provide a boost to our economy, as goods can be transported more easily across our province."

Construction on the West Calgary ring road (WCRR) started in 2019. Other sections of the ring road opened in 2009, 2013, 2020 and 2023.

While construction of the entire ring road project began in 1999 under former premier Ralph Klein, planning for a ring road around the city began as early as the 1950s.

In the late 1970s, under former premier Peter Lougheed, detailed planning and land acquisition started, and a transportation utility corridor was created to make the ring road a possibility.

"The final section of the Calgary Ring Road is now complete, and I'd like to acknowledge the work done by former premiers and transportation ministers and their vision to build Alberta," said Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the completion of the ring road should draw traffic away from congested roads such as the Deerfoot Trail, 16th Avenue, Glenmore Trail and Sarcee Trail.

"The ring road investment generated thousands of local jobs and will now play an integral role in keeping Calgarians and the economy moving," she said.

"This important transportation link will ease congestion on city routes and greatly improve connectivity and access for businesses transporting goods."