Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has announced construction on the final phase of Calgary's ring road will start next year.

Notley says it's a big project.

"The west leg will include more than nine kilometres of six and eight lane divided freeway. Six interchanges. A total of 24 bridges. A reconstruction of approximately five kilometres of the Trans Canada Highway and the widening of Stoney Trail from the Bow River to Scenic Acres."

Transportation Minister Brian Mason says they're already well underway with construction of the Southwest leg of the ring road.

"That construction we think is ahead of schedule and on budget. So, we're going to now proceed with, as soon as that's wrapping up, we're going to begin construction, hopefully before the end of 2019."

Mason wouldn't say how much the final nine kilometre stretch would cost.

This final stretch is expected to open in 2022, with the Southwest ring road opening in 2021.

When it's all done the ring road will provide 101 kilometres of free flow travel around the city.

 

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