AB Highway Construction

[Airboy]

I think the Ab gov should prioritize extensions on High 58 both east and west into BC. and 686 connections. I don't see Highway 11 extension west due to the shear logistics of building a highway through some of the most rugged terrain in the province.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by Airboy

I think the Ab gov should prioritize extensions on High 58 both east and west into BC. and 686 connections. I don't see Highway 11 extension west due to the shear logistics of building a highway through some of the most rugged terrain in the province.

Well, it looks like 686 is getting the last 280 kms over the next 5 years.

[Calgarian]

Highway 11 connecting to the #1 by Golden would be very interesting, but since it's in BC I would prefer highway 1 being twinned to at least Kamloops before they even study it.

[Dengler Avenue]

My friend who studied in Saskatoon told me that Lloydminster will die if it’s bypassed by the Yellowhead Highway. Then I came up with the idea of shoehorning a 6-lane divided freeway (or at least a 4-lane divided freeway with 2 additional lanes future-proofed) using the current alignment, similar to what Edmonton’s doing.
Thoughts?
At least it seems easier to expand the ROW on the Alberta side, whereas that can be challenging on the Saskatchewan side.

Ps: Does anyone know what’ll be the final ROW width of Yellowhead Freeway through Edmonton (excluding interchanges)?

[craner]

Hey Dengler,
Not sure if you might find some answers regarding the Yellowhead through Edmonton here:
http://https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/yellowhead-trail-freeway-conversion

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by craner

Hey Dengler,
Not sure if you might find some answers regarding the Yellowhead through Edmonton here:
http://https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/yellowhead-trail-freeway-conversion

I’ll take a closer look when I have more time, thanks.
That said, what about shoehorning something similar through Lloydminster to preserve most businesses?

[craner]

Is there currently a plan to bypass Lloyd ?

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

My friend who studied in Saskatoon told me that Lloydminster will die if it’s bypassed by the Yellowhead Highway. Then I came up with the idea of shoehorning a 6-lane divided freeway (or at least a 4-lane divided freeway with 2 additional lanes future-proofed) using the current alignment, similar to what Edmonton’s doing.
Thoughts?
At least it seems easier to expand the ROW on the Alberta side, whereas that can be challenging on the Saskatchewan side.

Ps: Does anyone know what’ll be the final ROW width of Yellowhead Freeway through Edmonton (excluding interchanges)?

I've driven through Lloydminster, I think converting 44 St (TCH 16) to a freeway would damage the city more than a bypass. That's its main commercial strip and the ROW wouldn't be able to fit a freeway. Lloydminster has established itself as the regional service center and has a lot industry related to oil and gas, which leads its boom and bust cycles. With a population of 30,000, it's probably graduated from having its fortunes tide soley to TCH 16 passing through verses traveling a couple km south of town.

Originally Posted by craner

Is there currently a plan to bypass Lloyd ?

Alberta has the ROW for a bypass that would pass just south of the city that's designated as Hwy 16X, starting near Blackfoot, AB. Saskatchewan has fewer online publications, but the bypass would rejoin TCH 16 west of Marshall, SK.

Lloydminster also has/had a plan to convert Hwy 17 to a pair of one-way couplets between 42 & 57 St, converting 50 Ave (current Hwy 17) to southbound and 49 Ave to northbound. The project has been on the city website for over a decade but it seems construction has stalled.

[craner]

Originally Posted by dmuzika

I've driven through Lloydminster, I think converting 44 St (TCH 16) to a freeway would damage the city more than a bypass. That's its main commercial strip and the ROW wouldn't be able to fit a freeway. Lloydminster has established itself as the regional service center and has a lot industry related to oil and gas, which leads its boom and bust cycles. With a population of 30,000, it's probably graduated from having its fortunes tide soley to TCH 16 passing through verses traveling a couple km south of town.



Alberta has the ROW for a bypass that would pass just south of the city that's designated as Hwy 16X, starting near Blackfoot, AB. Saskatchewan has fewer online publications, but the bypass would rejoin TCH 16 west of Marshall, SK.

Lloydminster also has/had a plan to convert Hwy 17 to a pair of one-way couplets between 42 & 57 St, converting 50 Ave (current Hwy 17) to southbound and 49 Ave to northbound. The project has been on the city website for over a decade but it seems construction has stalled.

That was my initial feeling as well (see bolded portion above).
I think the bypass solution is the best.

[Airboy]

I feel the Bypass would be best and would not take that much away from business. Lloyd is used as a rest stop between Edmonton and Saskatoon. You would have proper interchanges at both ends that could help. and may alleviate some of the congestion on 44. North Battleford could use a better interchange at the Rail crossing though. The Lloyd Bypass would take 15 minutes average off the drive. I've done the drive straight through and only loose 15-20 minutes depending on the traffic.

[foolworm]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-spending-budget-2025-transportation-1.7484287

A rundown of some of the larger projects that got funded.

[craner]

Here is a little more detail on the Highway 686 connection between Ft. Mac $ GP:

http://https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/how-a-fort-mcmurray-to-grande-prairie-highway-could-be-a-game-changer-for-northern-alberta-1.7429962

[Calgarian]

Lloyd is a big enough city that it's a regional centre, doubt it would cause much damage if 16 bypassed it. Would probably create a commercial corridor like Gasoline Alley in Red Deer.

[craner]

How Alberta is spending $8.5B in Budget 2025 on transportation

http://https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-spending-budget-2025-transportation-1.7484287

[Dengler Avenue]

Hi all:
I am visiting Calgary (including Airdrie, Banff, Lake Louise, maybe even as far as Golden, B.C.) during the first week of September.
Which stretches of highways are full of speed traps (including cops, mobile speed cameras)?
I am also thinking of taking advantage of free admission to national parks. For Banff and Lake Louise, where do you recommend for parking? (I've heard that the parking lot by the park entrance is almost always full.)
Thanks.

[craner]

Hey Dengler,
You need to be carful in Banff NP - speed limit is only 90.
Slow down through Bourgeau Lake Trail area where the east & west lanes of the TCH split and the police like to hide in the trees in between.

Have a great trip and enjoy

[Dengler Avenue]

Oh yea, is it easy to find parking around Banff Community High School? I figure that I will have to rely on public transit when I visit places like Lake Louise.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Oh yea, is it easy to find parking around Banff Community High School? I figure that I will have to rely on public transit when I visit places like Lake Louise.

The high school might be tricky, but the old train station has free parking, transit connections, and is walkable to downtown/Banff Ave, https://banff.ca/1104/Train-Station-Public-Parking.

[dmuzika]

Highway 2 improvements in the Red Deer area

Section A: Replacing the overpass over the Canadian National (CN) railway line [replace twin 2-lane bridges with twin 3-lane bridges]

Section B: Widening: 4 to 6 lanes, north of Highway 11 interchange

Section C: Widening: 4 to 8 lanes (32 to 67 Street) and replacing the Red Deer River bridges



https://www.alberta.ca/highway-2-improvements-in-the-red-deer-area

This will tie into the improvements made a few years back between 32 Street and Gasoline Alley which replaced the Gaetz Ave (Hwy 2A) interchange and widened to 6 lanes.

[craner]

^ Nice - had no idea this was happening.