Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney during the news conference discussing the 2022 highway construction season on Friday, May 27, 2022. (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

2022 highway construction season underway in Alberta

May 27, 2022 | 11:42 AM

CALGARY, AB – The 2022 highway construction season is underway in Alberta.

The province says nearly $1.4 billion is being invested into 300 capital and highway improvement projects, employing 12,000 Albertans in the process.

Budget 2022 set aside $789.4 million in this year’s Capital Plan for roads and bridges. With that, a number of capital projects will be finished this year, including:

• Highway 19 twinning, west segment – to be completed in fall 2022;
• Highway 15 twinning and new bridge – to be completed in fall 2022;
• Peace River bridge deck replacement project – to be completed in fall 2022.

Alberta’s Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney said, “we are building and maintaining the important infrastructure that makes Alberta a strong and vibrant place to live, raise a family and grow a business.”

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She continued, “I would also like to stress that while this work is going on, drivers need to be patient as they obey signs and speed reductions while driving through a construction zone.”

Additionally, Budget 2022 is investing just over $597 million in this year’s Provincial Construction Program. This focuses on projects that will preserve the lifespan of critical highway infrastructure, including bridge construction, bridge deck joint replacements and the repaving of highways.

Projects have been identified in all areas of the province:

• 75 in the central region;
• 80 in the north central/Fort McMurray regions;
• 73 in the Peace region;
• 80 in the southern region.

Ron Glen, the CEO of Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association said, “investing in road construction and maintenance represents excellent value for taxpayers because improved transportation systems are critical to Alberta’s exports and economic growth.”

“This significant contribution will sustain jobs and economic benefits to communities,” added Glen.

Planning continues for multiple capital projects. These include:

• Highway 3 twinning – construction is expected to start in 2023.
• Highway 1A and Highway 22 interchange at Cochrane – construction is expected to start in 2023.
• Highway 11 twinning – work has begun on Phase 1 of the project. This will include the construction of roundabouts at Highway 781 and Range Road 15. Phase 2 is expected to start in early 2023.
• Trans-Canada Highway Wildlife Overpass – construction is underway with completion scheduled for fall 2023.

Albertans can keep up to date on highway improvement projects and traffic conditions via 511 Alberta. The news conference discussing the 2022 highway construction season can be viewed below.

Alberta’s highway network includes more than 31,400 kilometres of highways, of which:

• Almost 28,000 kilometres are paved roads;
• Almost 2,800 centreline kilometres are four-lane or six-lane divided highways.

The province’s highway network includes roughly 4,600 bridge structures, including river crossing bridges, overpasses and culverts. Every year, Alberta Transportation typically paves about 1,000 kilometres of highway and rehabilitates or replaces approximately 50 bridges.