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UPDATED: Officials tour Hwy 2/Gaetz Avenue interchange

Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman and local MLAs visit construction site
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Equipment operator Ray Willie, with Flatiron Construction, talks to Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman at the Hwy2/Gaetz Avenue construction site on Monday. Hoffman, along with Red Deer South MLA Barb Miller and Red Deer North MLA Kim Schreiner received an update on the project and handed out water bottles to workers. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)

Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman was in Red Deer on Monday and one of her stops was at the Hwy 2/Gaetz Avenue Interchange construction site.

The project, estimated to cost $80 million, began in September 2016 and will completely realign Hwy 2 and Gaetz Avenue, 19th Street and Hwy 2A.

Work will largely be finished in the fall, before Red Deer hosts the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and will improve access to the city, reduce congestion and provide increase economic benefits to the region.

The project also supports the long-term goal of developing additional capacity on Hwy 2 from Calgary and Edmonton, a highway which is currently at or over capacity.

The project has involved the removal of three bridge structures, the reconfiguration of ramps and intersections, realignment of Hwy 2, and expansion to six lanes between 32nd Street and McKenzie Road.

When completed, the project will include:

  • Three lanes in each direction of Hwy 2 between McKenzie Road and 32nd Street.
  • Three reconstructed bridges and two new bridges that carry Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive traffic over and under the highway.
  • A reduction in the bend in Hwy 2 between Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive to improve safety.
  • New collector-distributor roads and the east and west sides of the highway.

The project is estimated to generate about 300 direct and indirect jobs over the three-year timeline, as well as generate 85 direct jobs in 2018.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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