The City of Edmonton has agreed to a final development concept for the intersection at 66 Street and Yellowhead Trail. The plan will remove the traffic lights and transform the intersection into an overpass.
The new development is part of the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion Program. The plan, which originated back in 2011, combines nine other projects. It will ultimately convert the Yellowhead Trail into a freeway.
The goal is to have traffic lights along the Yellowhead Trail removed by 2027. The city says this will fix the issue of backups and make travelling safer.
The construction of the intersection at 66 St. and Yellowhead Trail will cost $50 – $60 million. While the cost of the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion Program is estimated at $750 million. The city will receive $242 million each from both the provincial and federal governments.
Patrons at nearby businesses like Sergei’s SabreClub are optimistic about the change. “I think it’s really good because it’ll speed up traffic. I know that a lot of the red lights along the Yellowhead slow down traffic quite a bit, so it would be nice to have an actual freeway,” said Stephanie Ponich, a professional fencer at Sergei’s SabreClub.
Construction should start in 2024.
