Ring Road To Nowhere

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Acey

It's not even close to being done at the south end down by Glenmore. The road doesn't exist yet.

This is the off ramp to highway 8 (not Glenmore to us long time residents). It's the very last section that will be completed. Just a little north of there is all paved (at least first paving done) and light poles are up.

[Acey]

There is no advantage for the contractor to partially open early.

[red sky]

Aside from my death threats?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Acey

There is no advantage for the contractor to partially open early.

Depends on the contract. If it's fixed price he increases his margin and frees up crew and equipment. If it's cost plus, then no.

[Acey]

I've sent probably a dozen emails over the last 2 years to the contractor or the province and have been given no timelines but a pretty clear indication that they have no incentive to open early. Doesn't mean it won't happen.

[Nancy]

Today they were removing these concrete blocks as if to "open up" Northbound 85th onto Westbound Bow, so maybe the death threats worked?

https://goo.gl/maps/6hk76tacLS2Evxfi9

[red sky]

You'd think if this were to partially open that it would have been communicated already. I know there was some rumours but nothing concrete.

[lazypucker]

As much as I want the HWY1 to Bow Trail section to be open as soon as possible, there is actually not much benefit added.

Vehicles travelling north-south still needs to go through the Sarcee/Bow intersection cluster######.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

As much as I want the HWY1 to Bow Trail section to be open as soon as possible, there is actually not much benefit added.

Vehicles travelling north-south still needs to go through the Sarcee/Bow intersection cluster######.

The main benefit is local. Though I suppose it's a bit of an option for people going from south Calgary on Sarcee to the west towards Banff. I'd actually go up 17th, then 69th or 85th to Bow if I was leaving that way and the RR was open. The dry dam contruction is a pain on 22 and you could avoid it.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The main benefit is local. Though I suppose it's a bit of an option for people going from south Calgary on Sarcee to the west towards Banff. I'd actually go up 17th, then 69th or 85th to Bow if I was leaving that way and the RR was open. The dry dam contruction is a pain on 22 and you could avoid it.

I'm in the area and will use the new section of the RR when it opens, but I'm not sure if the main benefit to a partial opening is local, unless you frequently need to go north. As it is, 17th or OBCR through Springbank is pretty efficient to head towards Banff.

Once fully open, I feel there will be more benefit in being able to access the SB ring road, without having to get over to 69th, but that depends on where you are in the area. For now, personally, I think the increased traffic from non-local drivers that would really jam up 17th, 69th, 85th and Springbank Blvd outweighs the benefit of a partial opening.

[BigNumbers]

Be nice for those of us that head up the RR to the airport a lot from the west hill, or to visit family in parasite communities like Cochrane.

[GioforPM]

Just golfed with a fellow in construction who had real legit inside info that it will be open to Bow on Oct. 1.

And the incentive, for those discussing that earlier, is that it’s a leg that would get its own certificate of substantial completion, resulting in a release of holdback.

[calf]

I take that route home everyday...I feel like they need the NB bridge rehab completed to avoid a complete bottleneck where Stoney and TCH meet. Hope that's the case because it's a disaster currently

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Just golfed with a fellow in construction who had real legit inside info that it will be open to Bow on Oct. 1.

And the incentive, for those discussing that earlier, is that it’s a leg that would get its own certificate of substantial completion, resulting in a release of holdback.

I walked the area today. The concrete blocks that were removed from 85th Street appear have been used to block off the Eastbound lane of Bow from the ring road. (Or maybe they have been there for a while, don't know for sure.)

The Southbound lanes of Stoney are being used as a gravel haul road from the Burnco site, with constant traffic in both directions. You would think that would be an ongoing need, but I guess they could be stockpiling elsewhere?

The wording of the spokesman for Alberta Transportation is interesting -- "the West Calgary Ring Road will also have additional traffic movements available as of October 1st, 2023" -- in that it doesn't mention roads or even road segments, just "movements ."

Is it possible that they could open up the road for Northbound traffic only?

[red sky]

Why keep a partial opening quiet? Wouldn't there be communication by now?

[powderjunkie]

Could this be the province screwing around with the city, who doesn’t want a partial opening for how it’ll impact local roads?

[GioforPM]

They might keep it quiet in case they miss their date, so no one complains.

[red sky]

Looks like they will be rerouting west bound traffic on the flyover / overpass on the south portion of the West Ring Road starting in October. Would be lovely if they could open up access to 17th ave but wishful thinking.

https://westringroad.ca/2023/09/15/p...ember-15-2023/

[Calgary14]

When will the construction on the bridge near Chaparral actually be complete? This morning was worse than ever for delays

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

When will the construction on the bridge near Chaparral actually be complete? This morning was worse than ever for delays

I suspect another year, it looks like there is some remediation work and an additional lane being added to the existing bridge. I'm hoping they get 3 lanes going in both directions soon while they complete the rest of the work for the inner span. Eastbound was backed up to Macleod trail yesterday at 530.