EDMONTON, Alta. — Motorists travelling between Hwy. 2 and Hwy. 16 around Edmonton have a new travelling option, as the province officially opened the final eight-kilometre section of the Anthony Henday Drive Southwest Ring Road.

“The completion of the southwest ring road supports the ongoing growth of the Capital Region and creates a new and vital economic link within the province,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Ty Lund. “Investing in Alberta’s highway network, and in ring road infrastructure, supports the province’s strong economy and contributes to Alberta’s future growth.”

The provincial cost for completing the 18-kilometre southwest section of the Anthony Henday Drive was $310 million and includes five interchanges (Calgary Trail/Gateway Boulevard, Terwillegar Drive, 111 Street, Whitemud Drive, and 87 Avenue), three ravine crossings (Blackmud, Whitemud, and Wedgewood), and twin bridges over the North Saskatchewan River.

“One of the City of Edmonton’s key priorities is the swift completion of Anthony Henday Drive, and the opening and the southwest ring road is another important step toward realizing this goal,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “The City is proud to work with the Government of Alberta on this project, as it both reinforces Edmonton’s position as the service hub for northern development and meets the transportation needs of our citizens and the entire capital region.”

The concrete road surface of Anthony Henday Drive Southwest is expected to service about 30,000 vehicles per day.

The newest eight kilometres of Anthony Henday Drive Southwest connect with the six-kilometre segment of roadway that opened in 2005, the four-kilometre segment that opened in 2001, and the more than 20 kilometres of roadway that were previously opened.

Anthony Henday Drive Southeast will open in October 2007, providing an additional 11 kilometres of roadway. With the opening of the southwest and southeast portions, the ring road will be more than 50 kilometres in length. With the future completion of the north ring road, the total length will be 80 kilometres.