It is open.
Commuters from Okotoks and area finally had the long-awaited opportunity to drive on the new Deerfoot Trail Extension on Friday afternoon after the roadway was officially opened at 2 pm.
Dave Henning has been commuting to downtown Calgary from Okotoks for more than 10 years and Fridays opening could not have come any sooner.
“I was really looking forward to it,” he said of the extension. “Highway 22X was becoming a huge bottleneck and it is such a huge relief to travel downtown without so much traffic.”
He continued, “My commute to work takes 45 or 55 minutes, but there was so much uncertainty with the traffic. I hope this will save me at least 10 minutes.”
Twenty minutes to half-an-hour each day and avoiding agonizing traffic bottlenecks on Highway 22X and Macleod Trail will be a substantial relief for Okotoks commuters.
The Deerfoot Trail extension project began in 1999 and was completed last Friday after a month delay (the original completion date was Oct. 15).
On Friday, Alberta Infrastructure Minister Ed Stelmach officially opened the 11-kilometer freeway that connects Deerfoot Trail on the south end of Calgary to Highway 2 just north of the Okotoks overpass.
“To complete this project in three years with only a one month delay is an amazing accomplishment,” said Stelmach at Fridays grand opening on the Bow River bridge. “This project is good for all Albertans.”
Stelmach explained that the Deerfoot Trail extension, which cost approximately $100 million, was imperative for several reasons; it will improve the north/south trade corridor; it will allow Alberta to remain competitive in the North American trade market; it will keep semi-trucks off Highway 22X; and it will make the drive into Calgary a less stressful and more welcome journey for tourists and commuters from outlying communities such as Okotoks.
“The Deerfoot Trail Extension) will make the commute much safer for people from Okotoks because there will be a lot less congestion,” said the minister.
Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine also attended Friday's opening ceremony and he too believes the new road will be a boon for Okotoks.
He said that the Deerfoot Trail Extension will not only make life safer for Okotokians, but it will also improve business within the community.
"I think this is a good thing because it will improve (Okotoks') position on the north/south trade corridor," he explained. "It will mean easier access to Okotoks and we will be considered a destination for stopping between Calgary and Lethbridge."
Although the focus on the Deerfoot Trail Extension has been for traffic traveling north to Calgary from Okotoks, McAlpine said he hopes Calgarians also take advantage of the new road and venture south.
"Our industrial land will be attractive," he said. "And I hope more people come to Okotoks to enjoy some of our unique shops on Elizabeth and Elma Street."
The Town of Okotoks' economic development department is working on ways to promote Okotoks to Calgarians and easy access via Deerfoot Trail is one of their selling points.
As expected, the extension could also mean a boom for the Calgary economy as the city will be much easier to access without the congestion on Highway 22X and Macleod Trail.
Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said the determination of Stelmach and his staff was key to getting the job done.
"This is a significant project and Ed (Stelmach) remained tenacious to ensure the funding was available for this project," said Bronconnier. "The largest industrial development in the city is in the southeast of Calgary. This road will make a tremendous difference to the Calgary economy."