No new major road construction projects starting this year: city

The City of Edmonton says no new major road construction projects are starting up this year, which should help with traffic congestion. Nicole Weisberg reports.

The city says no new major road construction projects are starting this year, and traffic congestion is expected to ease up in the fall.

There are several arterial projects underway that have caused significant traffic delays, prompting the city to put at least two on the backburner.

Going into 2026, the city will continue working on major projects like the Valley Line West, Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion and Imagine Jasper Avenue.

City staff say Edmonton saw about 80,000 new drivers between 2023 and 2025.

Traffic modelling was completed by the city, forecasting improvements on portions of the Yellowhead, 104 Avenue and Whitemud Drive.

It also forecasts increased congestion on 215 Street, 50 Street and 41 Avenue while anticipating relief in the fall with the expected completion of the Wellington Bridge, 95 Avenue construction and Stage 2 of the Terwillegar Drive expansion.

“Last year was the perfect storm with a number of our major projects, overlapping projects that just couldn’t be delayed any further, happening at the same time,” said Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson.

The city is looking to prevent that from happening again by delaying work on the Low Level Bridge to 2027 as well as EPCOR work to 107 Avenue.

“In that area, where maybe we still have two parallel roadways closed down at the same time or under construction at the same time, maybe instead, we say, let’s close this one down in its entirety, work on it 24/7, get it done,” said Mayor Andrew Knack. “And then once it’s done, you move onto the other road instead of closing down both roads partially and having both roads in a constant state of disrepair.”

City council and staff are also vowing communication on projects and detours will be improved and are investigating new ways to reach and inform people.