Calgary explores options for interchange at Sarcee Trail and Richmond Road

The city is looking for feedback on designs for a possible interchange at Sarcee Trail and Richmond Road in the southwest.

A 2015 study on the impact of the southwest ring road showed that an interchange at that location would alleviate a lot of the current traffic congestion.

However, there is no current funding allotted for an upgrade to that intersection.

At an open house Monday night, the city showed three possible designs for the area and invited area residents to weigh in.

"This location, it's pretty constrained with all the businesses on every side,"city spokesperson Melanie Ducharme said.

"Everybody has different concerns, whether they're concerned about walking access, vehicle accommodation, access to businesses. Everyone has different priorities."

But, Ducharmeadded, most feedback from the public has welcomed an interchange at Sarcee and Richmond Road.

Resident Darrell Siemens says it's a shame there is no funding for the project.

"I mean it's such a huge intersection at that side of town and on that very end of the ring road," he said.

"It's going to bring everybody down Sarcee Trail, it's going tocome in off there, that's going to connect to the ring road. They're all going to have to still come by that one area."

A city spokesperson said transportation staff hope to bring a plan to council in mid-2017 and get it as a candidate project for funding the following year.

The city will host another open house on Nov. 26at Glamorgan School from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m., and is also accepting online feedbackuntil Dec. 10.

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