Airdrie residents may have found the commute from one side of town to the other easier after the $42-million rebuild of the ‘rat-hole’ was completed ahead of schedule.
The project, which started in the fall of 2008, was scheduled to finish this coming fall, but Airdrie Mayor Linda Bruce and Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette officially opened the interchange on June 30.
“The City of Airdrie fosters a developing partnership with Alberta Transportation, as we work together to improve traffic flow in Airdrie,” said Bruce. “The Yankee Valley Boulevard interchange is one example of the calibre of projects that carries huge benefits for our residents.”
The interchange, which included the construction of two bridges for the north-south flow of traffic on Highway 2, the widening of Yankee Valley Boulevard to a six lane road and the construction of new entrance and exit ramps, an improvement on the old dual lane road through what was known as the ‘rat-hole.’
The project was funded by the Alberta Government and was built by Graham Infrastructure. The cost was $42-million.
“Investing in our provincial highway network supports thousands of jobs today, lays the foundation for future economic growth and supports our communities,” said Ouellette.
“With 55,000 vehicles per day using the highway in this area, this upgraded interchange will improve safety and traffic flow and accommodate Airdrie’s future growth.”
