Wellington Bridge, Valley Line West LRT cornerstones in Edmonton’s 2026 construction plan

Residents in southwest Edmonton say their commute time has quadrupled due to a new construction project they had no warning about. Curtis Goodrum reports.

The 2026 construction season is underway in Edmonton and crews are working on more than 200 projects.

The Wellington and Dawson Bridge rehabilitation projects are two highlights of the city’s 2026 construction plan.

“The Wellington Bridge replacement will be finished this fall. The new bridge will improve safety for all road users, including cars, pedestrians, and cyclists,” Sara Nichols of the City of Edmonton told reporters on Friday.

“I’m happy to report that this project is under budget and ahead of schedule, with construction wrapping up in 14 months, down from an original two-year estimate.”

Nichols acknowledged that replacing the Wellington Bridge, which runs on 102 Avenue between 130 and 132 Streets, during construction of the Valley Line West LRT has caused additional headaches for residents and drivers.

“We know that this place, the Wellington Bridge, felt for many like we had gone too far, and for those residents, I’m sorry,” she said.

“I know many neighbourhoods have had a lot of disruption, and that’s why we’ve worked to have this project completed in just one year.”

In addition to bridge construction, Nichols said residents will see visible progress on the Terwillegar Drive expansion, Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion and Jasper Avenue upgrades.

“The Yellowhead Trail project began in 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027,” she said.

“That means we have one year left. I think residents can really appreciate the work that has taken place already on the west and east sides of the city to convert Yellowhead Trail to a six-lane freeway with free-flowing traffic.”

Significant developments are also expected on the Capital Line South LRT extension and the Valley Line West LRT project.

“Valley Line West saw significant progress last year, and we are anticipating that crews will continue to build on that momentum through 2026,” Nichols said.

“This year, some of the most impactful work is happening along 102 Avenue in the downtown and 87 Avenue on the west side of the city.”

Seven communities will also see upgrades to roads, curbs, and sidewalks as part of the neighbourhood renewal program.

“The total capital budget for this construction four-year season is over $7 billion and it includes several major multi-year transformational projects,” Nichols commented.

“It also covers maintenance and renewal work on bridges, buildings, roads, and parks.”

As construction season ramps up, Nichols says the city is committed to getting the most up-to-date information about road closures and traffic delays to residents.

“Starting this week, we will be sending weekly notifications to local media and posting on our social media and websites to update everyone on construction work and lane closures that may impact people’s commute,” she said.

“We have also improved our online traffic disruptions map. This interactive tool is updated daily with current and scheduled lane closures, utility work, and special events that may have traffic updates impacts.”

The traffic disruptions map can be found on the city’s website.