News

The much-anticipated opening of the northwest section of Anthony Henday Drive in Alberta, Canada, provides motorists access to 21 kilometres of free-flowing road in the Capital Region. This C$1.42 billion portion of the freeway runs from Yellowhead Trail on the west side of Edmonton to Manning Drive will improve safety and travel time for both residents and businesses.

Northwest Anthony Henday Drive is a project designed, built and financed by Bilfinger Berger Project Investments led consortium NORTHWEST CONNECT who will also operate the highway for a period of 33 years. This project is the single largest PPP transportation investment to date for the Government of Alberta.

Construction of the northwest leg began in autumn 2008. The project is completely free flow and includes eight interchanges, five flyovers and two rail crossings, for a total of 27 bridge structures. With the opening of this leg, the freeway is 90% complete and travellers have access to a total of 69 kilometres of free flow on Anthony Henday Drive.

"Northwest Anthony Henday Drive will change the way people travel in the area and will almost immediately reduce traffic congestion," said Ray Danyluk, Minister of Alberta Transportation. "The opening of this roadway also marks another step towards our goal of 800 kilometres of free flow traffic from Nanton to Grande Prairie."

"We are proud to have worked in such a constructive partnership with the Government of Alberta to hand over this important piece of the province's infrastructure on time and on budget, along with our consortium partners, Flatiron, Graham, Parsons, Carmacks and Infrared," said Damian Joy, President and CEO of Bilfinger Berger Project Investments Inc. and  NORTHWEST CONNECT representative. "By having private capital at risk, the consortium has strong incentive to deliver on time and to ensure the continuing availability of this freeway."

The new construction will benefit more than 30,000 motorists who will use this portion of the ring road daily, as well as the trucking industry which uses the freeway as a vital route for shipping and receiving goods.