Whoop-Up Drive/Scenic Drive interchange project aims to improve afternoon commute

Major upgrades are underway at the Scenic Drive South and Whoop-Up Drive interchange in Lethbridge, with two new lanes being added to improve traffic flow.

A significant road work project to improve safety and provide a smoother commute along Scenic Drive South is continuing in Lethbridge.

The overall project will include two additional lanes of traffic, one northbound and one southbound, be added to Scenic Drive South from Second Avenue South to the Whoop-Up Drive on-ramp.

From there, a second lane of travel will be constructed along the westbound Whoop-Up Drive on-ramp.

“It’s really to help the afternoon rush hour when everybody from downtown wants to go to the west side,” said Richard Brummund, road infrastructure manager with the City of Lethbridge.

“If you’ve ever drove it, you know it’s kind of lined up and sometimes even takes a couple lights to get through, so the target of this project is to improve the afternoon commute to the west side.”

The first phase of the Whoop-Up Drive/Scenic Drive interchange project is underway, near the Scenic Drive South on-ramp to Whoop-Up Drive.

“Right now, they’re building the embankment for the second lane going down the hill,” Brummund explained.

Phase two will begin on June 30, with a focus on westbound Six Avenue South area.

“It’s something that we’ve been planning for a couple years,” Brummund said.

“It’s a key project for the city to get done.”

Over the next several months, construction crews will work on Scenic Drive South through the downtown core to make room for the two more lanes of travel.

Once that work begins, Brummond says more traffic delays are expected in the area.

“There’s always a little pain and suffering, but hopefully come November you’ll see the difference on your commute home from downtown to the west side,” he said.

But until the project is fully complete, Brummund is asking everyone to be patient.

“Take a little care and attention because there’s workers out there,” he said.

“Everyone getting home (safely) is always a No. 1 priority for us.”