The Valley Line West LRT extension is entering a critical phase, with major lane closures set to begin on one of Edmonton's busiest corridors. Starting April 27, 87 Avenue will be reduced to a single lane in each direction between 159 Street and the Anthony Henday Drive ramps, with further traffic shifts at key intersections on May 4.
Impact on Major Hubs
According to city traffic counts, the intersection of 87 Avenue and 170 Street sees more than 70,000 vehicles daily, serving as a primary access point for West Edmonton Mall and near the Misericordia Hospital. These disruptions are expected to last until the end of the 2026 construction season, when snow typically begins to fall.
Brian Latte, the city's director of the Valley Line LRT project, explained that while road and sidewalk construction will largely conclude this year, further work on trackway, electrification, and signaling will continue. “In terms of road and sidewalk construction, we’re pretty much going to be done this year, which we’re pretty happy for. We at least hope the commuters will be happy because they won’t see any of the traffic restrictions like they’ve had in the last four or five years,” Latte said.
Coordination with Essential Services
Peter Schening, Marigold's construction manager, emphasized ongoing coordination with West Edmonton Mall and Misericordia Hospital to maintain access. “All the essential services, we meet with them on a regular basis to ensure that they know what we’re doing — and to not impact any essential services or emergency services,” Schening stated.
The road will be stripped down to its base and rebuilt, representing the final major roadwork needed for the Valley Line expansion. No further major closures or lane reductions are anticipated after this section is completed.
Station and Track Progress
Two elevated stations, one at the hospital and one at the mall, are still under construction, though the elevated guideway was completed last year. Schening noted the project remains on budget, with final track and station work expected to be finished by 2028, followed by system testing. Supply-chain issues have been mitigated by early procurement, and no major concerns remain.
As 87 Avenue lanes are reduced, ongoing construction and lane reductions continue on Stony Plain Road through the Glenora neighbourhood and west into the business area. Commuters are advised to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.
