Construction is now underway on this new ramp.

Some construction activities will take place in 2020, including top lift paving, pathway construction, concrete work at 60 Street, and landscaping.

Throughout construction, there will be continual access into and exiting YYC Calgary International Airport.

During the month of September, there will be rotating lane changes and traffic shifts just east of the intersection of Barlow Trail and Airport Trail to accommodate utility installations. All traffic movements at the intersection will continue to be maintained.

This traffic shift is being accompanied by speed reductions to 50 km/hr in this area.

A temporary lane realignment, shifting traffic to the outside lanes of Airport Trail, is now in place. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times, together with left turn lanes.

Construction is ongoing on two new interchanges at 19 Street N.E. and Barlow Trail. During construction, motorists and guests are being encouraged to add extra time to their journey to and from YYC Calgary International Airport.

Airport Trail - Phase 1 was completed in May 2014 with the opening of the 620 metre, six lane tunnel under the new Airport runway. Along with the Airport Trail tunnel, the phase included widening of Airport Trail from four to six lanes between Barlow Trail and Deerfoot Trail.

All three stages of this project will be opened to traffic in 2022.

Major construction activities of the two new interchanges are underway.

The Airport Trail Extension between 36 Street and 60 Street N.E. will provide motorists travelling to and from northeast Calgary with an excellent connection to Stoney Trail N.E..The roadway between Metis Trail and 60 Street was opened to traffic in December 2019.

Airport Trail N.E. is an important transportation corridor running east-west across the northeast quadrant of Calgary and is a significant part of the city's primary goods movement and primary transit network. It provides access to and from YYC Calgary International Airport and connectivity to communities and commercial areas in northeast Calgary.

Managing the construction zone

When construction begins on the interchanges, here's what you can expect along Airport Trail, east of Deerfoot Trail:

Reduced speed limits in construction zones (60 km/hr unless otherwise indicated)

Narrowed traffic lanes to make space for crews

Intermittent single and double lane closures during weekday off-peak hours

Intermittent single and double lane closures on weekends

Lane shifts, re-alignments and new traffic patterns

Airport/business access

Throughout the construction of the interchanges, there will be continual access into and exiting the Calgary International Airport.

We recommend motorists and guests add extra time to their journey to arrive at their destination on time. We will make every effort to communicate phases of the project and road detours that could add to delays.

Project background and benefits

Planning and development related to the Airport Trail N.E. corridor has been underway since 1994, the year a preliminary feasibility study was commissioned by the City of Calgary. The corridor is intended to function as a continuous roadway connection between Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail, accommodating traffic as part of Calgary's primary goods movement and primary transit networks.

The City's functional planning study for Airport Trail N.E. from Deerfoot Trail to Stoney Trail identifies the medium and long-term transportation requirements, and has developed an access management strategy for the Airport Trail corridor. This functional planning study was approved by City Council in December 2012; it was further refined by the Airport Trail Functional Plan Update, completed in 2017.

On November 6, 2017, the Airport Trail - Phase 2 project was submitted for formal consideration under the first round of National Trade Corridors Fund grant program. The submission was successful, and on July 6, 2018, the Federal Government announced a commitment of $50 million. The Government of Alberta has committed $27.7 million towards this project and the Calgary Airport Authority is committing $20 million towards the construction of the interchanges.

Completion of Airport Trail - Phase 2 will result in these benefits:

Constructing the 'missing link' on Airport Trail between 36 Street N.E. and 60 Street N.E. thereby connecting Deerfoot Trail to Stoney Trail.

Improved access to-and-from the Calgary International Airport

Access to Airport Trail from southbound Stoney Trail.

The new interchanges will effectively manage the movement of goods, services, and people on Airport Trail into and out of YYC Calgary International Airport, and adjacent airport-related developments.