(AlbertaIndex, May 6, Tuesday) --- Alberta province will invest a record total of $1.9 billion this year in building infrastructure this year including highways, bridges, road widening throughout the province, and ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary as part of the Capital Plan.

    The provincial government has budgeted to re-pave 1,240 kilometres of highway, including 82 kilometres of widening work, and to complete 50 kilometres of new paved highway.

Some of the main provincial highway construction work in Calgary and area include:

• Construction continues on Stoney Trail NE and Stoney Trail NW as part of an estimated $488 million to be invested in the Calgary Ring Road in 2008.

• Deerfoot Trail improvements including $9 million for the Peigan Trail/Barlow Trail interchange and $8 million for widening the road between Beddington Trail and 64 Avenue North.

• Construction of the $40 million interchange near Chestermere at Highways 1, 9 and 797.

Work on the Edmonton area will include:

• Construction of Anthony Henday Drive North West.

• Continuation of work on twinning of Highway 21 at a cost of $37 million this year.

• Reconstruction of Highway 625 near Nisku at an estimated cost of $26 million.

• Repaving QEII between Ellerslie Road and Highway 39 and illumination from Ellerslie Road to Airport Road at a cost of $24 million.

“The province is investing a record amount of funding this year for highway infrastructure,” said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation. “Alberta is committed to investing in priority highway and bridge construction, as a safe and efficient highway network supports Alberta’s economy and contributes to the province’s continuing prosperity.

“Although we will invest more in our provincial highway network during 2008-11 than ever before, we recognize there is still work to do to improve our highway infrastructure and we will continue to address these needs based on priority and available funds.”

Based on the 2008-11 Capital Plan, government will invest $5.2 billion in Alberta’s provincial highway network over the next three years, an increase of $548 million from 2007-10 levels.

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