West Calgary Ring Road at Bow Trail interchange and Stoney Trail partially opening

A partial opening on the Calgary Bow Trail interchange and Stoney Trail is scheduled to happen Sunday.

Officials with the West Calgary Ring Road project say traffic will be able to flow between Bow Trail and the Trans-Canada Highway, along with the Bow Trail extension to 101 Street SW, as well as connections from Stoney Trail to the north starting Oct. 1.

“Traffic will be shifted to the new road in phases. Please drive cautiously in the project area and watch for signage and flag persons directing traffic,” a notice reads.

In early October, officials say eastbound and westbound Bow Trail will open to public traffic from 85 Street SW to 101 Street in Calgary. (Courtesy West Calgary Ring Road project website)

In the meantime, delays are expected on Stoney Trail.

At this time, there are two lanes in each direction on Stoney Trail over the Bow River while the bridge is “rehabilitated.” However, project officials say when the new section opens north of Bow Trail, the two directions will be reduced to a single lane at the Trans-Canada Highway to accommodate the new lanes.

“Major delays in the peak periods are anticipated. Please consider using alternate northbound and southbound routes,” officials say.

The project notice says Old Banff Coach Road and the Trans-Canada Highway Interchange ramps will open to drivers on Sunday, which will allow drivers to go north on Stoney Trail from Old Banff Coach Road and to Old Banff Coach Road from southbound Stoney Trail.

Officials say all movement at the Old Banff Coach Road and Trans-Canada Highway interchanges will open to traffic in Calgary, but northbound Stoney Trail will be reduced to one lane approaching the Bow River bridge until bridge rehabilitation is complete, along with the northbound bridge over the river re-opens. (Courtesy West Calgary Ring Road project website)

Westbound Highway 8 is also expected to open in October, and to pave the tie-in from it to existing lanes, Highway 8 will be reduced to a single lane, officials say.

“The lane closures will be shared on electronic information boards once the timing is confirmed,” the notice reads.

Northbound Stoney to Highway 8 flyover in Calgary. (Courtesy West Calgary Ring Road project)

In late September, Ward 6 Coun. Richard Pootmans says with the section opening, he wants to have a closer look at an interchange just east of the new ring road.

He also believes the city should start studying what impact the ring road might have.

The project was slated to be completed in 2022, but a utility line being moved by ENMAX forced a two-year delay, though the government also said that the COVID-19 pandemic is partially to blame.

When finished, the entire Calgary Ring Road will provide travellers with 101 kilometres of free-flow travel.

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-With files from Mark Strashok and Tracey Garbutt