The City of Edmonton and its contractor, Marigold Infrastructure Partners (Marigold), have officially started construction on the 14-km Valley Line West LRT (light rail transit) expansion project from 102 Street downtown to Lewis Farms.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Federal Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Rajan Sawhney, Provincial Minister of Transportation, and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi came together today at the Lewis Farms Transit Centre to celebrate the start of the project's first full construction season.
“As Edmonton grows, so too does the need for green, reliable transportation and infrastructure. The Valley Line West LRT route will help bring residents and visitors alike closer together, providing increased accessibility to the many local businesses, events, and festivals that mark Edmonton as a first class destination.” - The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
When it is complete, Valley Line West will connect communities in west Edmonton to the city’s existing transit network. The low-foor, community-integrated urban style LRT will provide our growing city with more transit options than ever before. It will also change how we move and grow into a city of two million people in the coming decades.
“Alberta’s government is pleased to make this significant investment in Edmonton’s transit network. Access to public transit is a critical component to Alberta’s economic recovery. Transit allows people to get to work or school, visit family and friends, and removes barriers to mobility. The province’s commitment in the Valley Line West LRT helps mark the culmination of years of hard work and planning by many partners involved in this project.” - The Honourable Rajan Sawhney, Provincial Minister of Transportation
Valley Line West includes smaller-scale stops that are spaced closely together in communities to make it easier for people to use sustainable options like riding transit, biking and walking in their daily lives. It features 14 street-level stops and two elevated stations, two new bridges, connections with transit centres at Jasper Place, West Edmonton Mall, Lewis Farms, and an expanded Park & Ride location at Lewis Farms. It provides an LRT link to major destinations; including NorQuest College, MacEwan University, Brewery District, 124 Street, Jasper Place, Meadowlark Mall, the Misericordia Hospital and West Edmonton Mall.
“By expanding Edmonton's current LRT services across the city, we will create a reliable, safe and affordable transit system that allows Edmontonians to get where they need to be, when they need to be there. Public transit is an essential part of a city's infrastructure, and this expansion will contribute to Edmonton’s economic growth and overall city vibrancy." - Mayor Amarjeet Sohi
The project cost is $2.6 billion and is supported with funding from both the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Canada provided $948 million and the Government of Alberta provided $1.04 billion. A large infrastructure project such as Valley Line West contributes to economic activity and creates thousands of good-paying jobs for our city and region. Economists estimate the Valley Line West construction will create 8,800 jobs in Alberta.
The City selected Marigold, a company made up of team members from Colas, Parsons, Standard General, Francl Architecture, Fast & Epp and Stantec, to design, build and partially-finance the project in
2020.
Since then, Marigold has been busy completing detailed design and early construction preparations. Marigold is kicking off their 2022 construction season with some major work, including a continuation of utility relocations, the elevated guideway and two elevated stations at West Edmonton Mall and the Misericordia Community Hospital, site preparations where street-level stations will be located, preparatory work for the bridge at Anthony Henday Drive, and the the storage facility at Lewis Farms and the Gerry Wright operations and maintenance facility.
Construction began in spring 2021 and is anticipated to finish in 2027.
