Valley Line West LRT: Here’s what’s changing as Phase 2 begins next week

An Edmonton intersection that's been closed for weeks because of Valley Line West LRT construction is about to reopen.

Drivers, riders and pedestrians will be able to access a critical intersection next week as Phase 2 of the Valley Line West LRT begins.

City planners say the intersection at Stony Plain Road and 124 Street is expected to reopen around June 9.

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“Thanks to favourable conditions, we’re able to open the 124 Street intersection on schedule,” said Jonathan Cox, construction manager at Marigold Infrastructure Partners.

“This is a team of skilled Edmontonians who lace up their boots every day (who) come and deliver a generational project for the city.”

He said all they have left to do at the intersection is some interim paving and line painting.

The overall project has passed 40 per cent completion, Cox added. They are expecting to be at 60 per cent by the end of the year with full completion anticipated for 2028.

Marigold is the company the city commissioned to build the west Edmonton LRT line.

Accelerated roadwork on the line began in mid-April and aims to reduce the duration of traffic restrictions by more than half and get many of the roads into their final configuration by the end of the year.

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The three-phased accelerated plan is anticipated to continue until the end of November.

Crews remain on schedule to open intersections at 87 Avenue and Meadowlark Road and Stony Plain Road and 156 Street in mid-July.

Work on 104 Avenue between 105 Street and 121 Street will continue until the end of November, with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

“We know this work is disruptive to commuters, residents and businesses, and we appreciate everyone’s continued patience,” said Brian Latte, director of Valley Line West. “We encourage residents to continue supporting local businesses affected by construction.”

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Latte added that the road work is only one part of the project. LRT stops and major stations need to be built.

“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done,” he said. “Things are going as we had hoped and as we expected, so this is a real good sign on how our contractor can deliver to the promises they’ve made.”

Phase 2 update

While Stony Plain Road and 124 Street opens, workers will move on to the intersection of Stony Plain Road and 142 Street earlier than planned, said a statement from the city. The intersection will be partially closed for nine weeks starting June 10.

The Y-intersection at Stony Plain Road and 139 Street will be fully closed to traffic starting June 8 for approximately nine weeks.

“While the closure of 139 Street was not a part of the accelerated roadwork plan, the decision to close it at the same time as 142 Street will reduce long-term disruption to the neighbourhood, businesses and commuters,” said the city’s statement.

149 Street will operate at full capacity going north and south while the 139 Street and 142 Street intersections undergo construction. Information on traffic and pedestrian impacts can be found on Marigold’s construction bulletin.

Partial closures will impact 95 Avenue and 156 Street for approximately nine weeks. The work is expected to begin in mid-July once work at Stony Plain Road and 156 Street is complete.

Construction will have impacts on public transit. Service adjustments can be found on the ETS website.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall