The City of Lethbridge is finalizing the reconstruction of the twinning of University Drive.
The planning process took a year to complete before construction started, running from January to December 2018.
One purpose of the University Drive twinning project is to encourage growth in southwest Lethbridge. Another reason is to provide a connection for the third river crossing.
This project is being funded $10.9 million from the capital improvement program.
Two trees were removed along University Drive before the twinning project began. The trees were removed to make more space for the extra traffic lanes.
The twinning project spans from the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium to Sunridge Boulevard.
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The construction of University Drive officially started in April of 2019.
While construction workers are working, drivers are asked to drive cautiously and to follow all directional signs.
By the end of the project, which is expected by mid-November, four lanes will be spanning from the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium to south of the Sunridge roundabout.
In June of 2019, utilities were installed under University Drive, Riverstone Boulevard West and Macleod Drive West.
During the winter months, construction crews took a break from the project. The project resumed on March 2, 2020.
The first area worked on after the break was University Drive to Grand River Boulevard and from Grand River Boulevard to Sunridge Boulevard.
To prepare for the winter break, the roads of Riverglen Link West and the intersection of Grand River Boulevard West were paved.
According to getinvolvedlethbridge.ca, “in the next few days barriers wand signage will replace cones and barricades to transfer the project limits back to the City of Lethbridge for winter maintenance.”
Get Involved Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge’s Twitter account is where updates about the Twinning Project can be found.
The most recent phase of the project started last Saturday.
Project Manager Robert Kovacs is confident this project will be beneficial to the City of Lethbridge.
“Well, of course commuter times will slow down and it’s safer. We’ve got better crossings, we’ve got better volumes there, we’re going to have RFBs, which are push button pedestrian crossings at the roundabout and we’re putting in wave-tonics to detect the traffic. And of course, that will smooth traffic along University Drive for everybody’s daily commute to and from work.”
This phase of the project is divided into two stages.
Stage one was focused on the southbound lanes and stage two is focused on the northbound lanes.
Stage one was finished by Sept. 15, 2020 and stage two was finished on Sept.18, 2020.
While the reconstruction is going on, traffic is being redirected to the opposing lanes. This is a struggle to adjust to for some residents, especially former west side Lethbridge resident Marina Hannah.
“The transit route had to change, to go around the reconstruction, so that was kind of an obstacle for me.”
Bus routes will be accommodated accordingly by City Transit.
After the reconstruction is complete, the maximum speed along the reconstructed roads will be 60 kilometres per hour.
