Calgary Stoney Trail [Ring Road] - Page 48

mersar · #**941** Posted **Feb 20, 2009, 7:12 PM**

The site plan shows that NB stoney is 3 lanes and SB stoney 2 lanes (plus an offramp) going over Scenic Acres Link, so hopefully that is what is built.

lubicon · #**942** Posted **Feb 20, 2009, 7:18 PM**

That only makes sense as there really needs to be a climbing lane for slow moving vehicles. I assume that is what will be built. It is difficult to get a perspective of how wide the bridges are when you drive past them. I guess part of my point was that it would appear that a new bridge over the Bow is not in the short term plans otherwise they would have / could have made accomodations for more lanes on Stoney at the Tuscany interchange. At any rate they are making decent progress on this structure.

Oliver Klozov · #**943** Posted **Feb 20, 2009, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

The site plan shows that NB stoney is 3 lanes and SB stoney 2 lanes (plus an offramp) going over Scenic Acres Link, so hopefully that is what is built.

Indeed. That off-ramp lane is already diverging as it crosses the bridge so it appears that the west (southbound) bridge will be even wider than 3 lanes.

It also is worth noting that in the ultimate configuration (orange lines) the southbound Stoney to Tuscany/Scenic ramp will have its own bridge over Scenic Acres Link.

mersar · #**944** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 5:14 AM**

Global mentioned on the news tonight that the province and city will be announcing funding for the SE part of the ring road next week

freeweed · #**945** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 6:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

Global mentioned on the news tonight that the province and city will be announcing funding for the SE part of the ring road next week

And another delay in the SW portion, next discussion to take place in 2015.

korzym · #**946** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 3:11 PM**

Awesome news guys! thanks for sharing. I drove past the 16th ne interchange, they've begun putting up the components of the deck for the main stoney trail road going over 16th. Got to love private companies...they're showing they can get things done better than gov like no other

Quote:

Calgary drivers facing traffic turmoil in the city's southeast will soon see some relief, says a local alderman.

With the province expected to announce plans for the southeast leg of Calgary's ring road Monday, Ald. Ric McIver said the news couldn't be better for commuters at his end of town who have long had do deal with traffic bottlenecks on busy Deerfoot Tr.

"This is so huge -- the Deerfoot when it pinches off to two lanes at Glenmore Tr. has got to be the worst traffic situation in the city," he said.

The northeast portion of the ring road is expected to be complete by fall, while the majority of the northwest portion has been built, which will provide a continuous route along Calgary's edge from 16 Ave. N.W. to 17 Ave. S.E.

Plans for the southeast leg will connect to the northeast portion and run south all the way to Hwy. 22X.

With the announcement, three-quarters of the long awaited ring road will be underway while negotiations between the province and the Tsuu T'ina First Nation still continue over the future southwest leg of the road.

Talks over that portion have been ongoing for years but Chief Sanford Big Plume said last November he believes a deal is close to being signed and ratified.

McIver said the continued progress on the pricey project shows the province has the city's best interest at heart and doesn't need to be hounded into moving forward on important infrastructure.

"It goes to show that it's all well and good to push the province, but sometimes it's in our best interest to work co-operatively," he said.

"The fact is, Premier (Ed) Stelmach has promised to complete the ring road by 2015 and I have every reason to believe that will happen."
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2009/02/28/8567021-sun.html

Wooster · #**947** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 3:18 PM**

Just a question - why are you guys so excited about the ring road? Won't it contribute to exacerbating sprawl in Calgary and decentralize the city? Given the limited of money going around these days, wouldn't you rather have these hundreds of millions or billions of dollars going to transit - which would have probably a greater impact on reducing congestion? Are by-passing routes in the city prominent enough to justify such massive infrastrucure?

I understand the necessary-evil of highways, but is this project really that needed or good for the city?

freeweed · #**948** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 3:22 PM**

Because Calgary isn't getting rid of cars anytime soon. Because there are no good east-west routes in the city (especially the northern half). Because trucks and other highway-only traffic continue to clog our roads.

Mostly because most of us aren't raving "transit only for everything!!!" lunatics.

You want to talk about encouraging real sprawl, go check out the Calgary commuter rail thread.

Wooster · #**949** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

Because Calgary isn't getting rid of cars anytime soon. Because there are no good east-west routes in the city (especially the northern half). Because trucks and other highway-only traffic continue to clog our roads.

Mostly because most of us aren't raving "transit only for everything!!!" lunatics.

You want to talk about encouraging real sprawl, go check out the Calgary commuter rail thread.

I always took John Laurie or Country Hills to cross town in the north. They are always pretty quick.

Commuter rail yes, you're right will facilitate growth in our satellite suburbs - but it's also a case of them not going away either, so it's good to give people an option of something other than a car. Hopefully it may also spur some more better growth patterns in those communities as well (which I think should be a condition of getting stuff like regional rail - minimum densities and so forth). Hopefully the new regional planning regime will put in place those kinds of targets.

craner · #**950** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

Global mentioned on the news tonight that the province and city will be announcing funding for the SE part of the ring road next week

This is a relief, I was worried this might get shelved after the provincial budget update this week and a call for capital spending cuts in light of the impending deficit.

Sorry Wooster - I still get excited about big new freeways (as long as they are not through or around downtown). I agree with Freeweed on the lack of good E-W routes in the north. And why in hell do we have that sorry excuse for an interchange at Glenmore and Deerfoot - the two busiest roads in Calgary. Deerfoot also reduces down to two lanes just north of the Ivor Strong bridge - figure that out.

If we can complete the ring road and Crowchild as free flow from 24th Ave NW accross the river I'll be satisfied (for the time being).

MalcolmTucker · #**951** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 8:43 PM**

^ Once those two things are done, I would be happy for council to make an announcement:

We are never planning to build another interchange or mile of freeway. Ever.

Skeletor · #**952** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

And another delay in the SW portion, next discussion to take place in 2015.

OMFG! Are you serious or is that sarcasm? It should be BUILT by then... I wish they would get their heads out of their a$$es and just do something already. What is 6 more years of sitting around before it is even discussed going to accomplish?

Skeletor · #**953** Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle_olsen

^ Once those two things are done, I would be happy for council to make an announcement:

We are never planning to build another interchange or mile of freeway. Ever.

Thankfully your thoughts on that particular issue are among the minority in this city. Personalized transport is not going anywhere anytime soon. The form of fuel may change, but I think we'll ALL be old and grey before we see the core ideas that define the automobile change all that drastically. Please don't take that as an affront against public transit. It just can't compete with the car in terms of time and convenience aside from filing us into and out of the core every week day. And no, hindering the road network to make transit seem more palatable in comparison is not the way to go.

I'm on my way out the door (to go for a drive in my car with my friend - just for fun), so I don't have time to refine my thoughts all that well. Hopefully I'll be back later to fend off the retorts.

freeweed · #**954** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

I always took John Laurie or Country Hills to cross town in the north. They are always pretty quick.

JL isn't bad although then you get the joy of being crammed up with the lights on McKnight - good on a quiet day, annoying on a busy one.

Country Hills is a parking lot. Not sure how long it's been since you've driven it (you say "took"...) but that road is just abysmal these days.

freeweed · #**955** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeletor

OMFG! Are you serious or is that sarcasm? It should be BUILT by then... I wish they would get their heads out of their a$$es and just do something already. What is 6 more years of sitting around before it is even discussed going to accomplish?

Well, I don't actually know anything, so sarcasm. But every year we hear "discussions are happening and a decision will be made soon" and that's been going on for years and years now. So 2015 would not surprise me in the least.

mersar · #**956** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 5:42 PM**

Heard on the radio that supposedly the SE part of the ring road will be done as a P3, they've put out requests for proposals and hope to be able to start construction by next spring for a 2013 completion. This part will be from 17th Ave SE up to and including the Macleod Trail and 22X interchange.

You Need A Thneed · #**957** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

Heard on the radio that supposedly the SE part of the ring road will be done as a P3, they've put out requests for proposals and hope to be able to start construction by next spring for a 2013 completion. This part will be from 17th Ave SE up to and including the Macleod Trail and 22X interchange.

Alberta Government News Release

Also, regarding the SW portion:

Draft agreement reached between province and Tsuu T'ina

mersar · #**958** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 6:33 PM**

Thanks for digging up the links.

Seems the radio had it wrong, it doesn't include the Macleod interchange in this part. This part will actually be bigger than the NE though, 25km and 29 bridges versus 23km and 23 bridges. More interchanges as well at 9. Got to love how they also tacked maintenance of part of Deerfoot onto it though.

You Need A Thneed · #**959** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

Thanks for digging up the links.

Seems the radio had it wrong, it doesn't include the Macleod interchange in this part. This part will actually be bigger than the NE though, 25km and 29 bridges versus 23km and 23 bridges. More interchanges as well at 9. Got to love how they also tacked maintenance of part of Deerfoot onto it though.

More kms, but several of those kms are just twinning, instead of a whole new road.

lubicon · #**960** Posted **Mar 2, 2009, 7:09 PM**

Great news about the SE portion of Stoney. I always felt this was the next logical step seeing as the SW is such a cluster with the Tsu Tina 'negotiations'. The SE is jsut so much easier to build - flat land, ralatively straight alignment, and no land aquirement issues to worry about. This will be a huge benefit to those who live and work in the SE, and to commercial traffic that comes in and out of the SE. With the recent start of NW Anthony Henday in Edmonton you knew this announcement would not be too far off as construction of the 2 ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary have followwed very similar patterns and timelines.

Of particular interest to me is how a P3 is going to work in today's economic environment. I love the idea, adn they have worked well in the past (for the ring roads) but i wonder how easy it will be for the consortiums to secure financing if they are awarded this project. Would the Province be able to use it's own money (eg Heritage Fund) to loan the money to the consortiums? Work the deal like any other financial deal, to be paid back with interest, and it might not be a bad investment for the Province.

Changing topics, we have been discussing the opening of the Stoney/Crowchid interchange over on the Calgary Transit thread (probably wrongly). Just thought I would add in that the new bridge structures have been tagged pretty significantly with grafitti which I jsut noticed over the weekend. The interchange won't even open for at least another year and it's already a grafitti target. Must be those gangsta's living in Tuscany.