Calgary Stoney Trail [Ring Road]

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Rothwell

Those youtube videos of the stoney trail road were awesome

I wish I could see an overhead picture of the area the proposed stoney trail ring road will cover

Do you mean something like this?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s...14.008389&spn=0.023085,0.087891&t=h&z=14

Just follow the unfinished freeway from the interchange of Stoney & Highway 2.

When you reach the end of eastside construction, continue south to Highway 22X.
On the westside, when you reach the Trans Canada Highway, Stoney will continue south to Highway 8.

[Rothwell]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Do you mean something like this?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s...14.008389&spn=0.023085,0.087891&t=h&z=14

Just follow the unfinished freeway from the interchange of Stoney & Highway 2.

When you reach the end of eastside construction, continue south to Highway 22X.
On the westside, when you reach the Trans Canada Highway, Stoney will continue south to Highway 8.

I heard something about a First Nations Tribe holdings up progress because of land disputes. Say it ain't so. And it it is, what part of the ring road will be compromised?

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Rothwell

I heard something about a First Nations Tribe holdings up progress because of land disputes. Say it ain't so. And it it is, what part of the ring road will be compromised?

Just roll back to messages since June, and you'll find almost everything you want to know.

[korzym]

Stoney trail group is taking down their website today

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by korzym

Stoney trail group is taking down their website today

No big loss, it wasn't much of a website to begin with.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by lubicon

No big loss, it wasn't much of a website to begin with.

I also found out that their not responsible for building 60th ave ne or additional lanes.

They signed a 20 year lease however, and in it if I'm not mistaken said they would be on the hook for maintenance [and upgrades?]. Must be a sweet deal if all they'll have to do is paint new lines on the road every few years for the $20m/year or w/e they'll be receiving. This is news to me that they won't build 60th ave or additional lanes, further when the time for that comes they will get bid on - makes me cringe cause I hope the NE stretch won't have one poorly designed bridge by a crappy bidder...stoney tr group raised the standard high

save the bird's eye view pics of the road onto your computer while you can!

60th ave ne can be seen at 1:25 of this vid:
• Video Link

[mersar]

Originally Posted by korzym

I also found out that their not responsible for building 60th ave ne or additional lanes.

They signed a 20 year lease however, and in it if I'm not mistaken said they would be on the hook for maintenance [and upgrades?]. Must be a sweet deal if all they'll have to do is paint new lines on the road every few years for the $20m/year or w/e they'll be receiving. This is news to me that they won't build 60th ave or additional lanes, further when the time for that comes they will get bid on - makes me cringe cause I hope the NE stretch won't have one poorly designed bridge by a crappy bidder...stoney tr group raised the standard high

The maintenance involves a bit more then just painting the lines every few years. STG also is responsible for snow removal, pothole patching, repaving (which will be needed at least once in the term of the contract) etc, for the NE but also the maintenance of the NW stretch for the next 30 years. Similar to how whoever wins the SE leg will be responsible for the SE plus Deerfoot maintenance.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by mersar

The maintenance involves a bit more then just painting the lines every few years. STG also is responsible for snow removal, pothole patching, repaving (which will be needed at least once in the term of the contract) etc, for the NE but also the maintenance of the NW stretch for the next 30 years. Similar to how whoever wins the SE leg will be responsible for the SE plus Deerfoot maintenance.

See thats why I think the website, as crappy as it is, shouldn't be taken down. It was nice that they put up traffic alerts and the like when they were building it. Obviously this is a money thing, and I doubt that site got a lot of internet traffic

[Oliver Klozov]

I travelled Canmore to Strathmore and return on Saturday. Naturally I took Stoney both ways but I did stop at Costco off Sarcee on the return trip. Is that ever convenient now.

Anyway, I noticed that snowplow/sanding trucks that were on the NW section were Carmacks. I had seen a Carmacks pickup stopped along the NE section previously. If I'm not mistaken, Carmacks also has the current maintenance contract for Deerfoot. I would expect that they will be the maintenance partner for whoever gets the SE 3P contract.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Oliver Klozov

I travelled Canmore to Strathmore and return on Saturday. Naturally I took Stoney both ways but I did stop at Costco off Sarcee on the return trip. Is that ever convenient now.

Anyway, I noticed that snowplow/sanding trucks that were on the NW section were Carmacks. I had seen a Carmacks pickup stopped along the NE section previously. If I'm not mistaken, Carmacks also has the current maintenance contract for Deerfoot. I would expect that they will be the maintenance partner for whoever gets the SE 3P contract.

Yep, Carmacks does have the Deerfoot mainline contract, and were a partner on STG. And they are also a partner with a group consisting of two the STG partners (Flatiron, Graham) that are bidding on the SE. The part with the SE actually is only covering Deerfoot south of 22X, possibly I'd suspect the current contract only goes to that point, its possible that whoever has the contract for the highways south of the city may take care of it up to there.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by korzym

See thats why I think the website, as crappy as it is, shouldn't be taken down. It was nice that they put up traffic alerts and the like when they were building it. Obviously this is a money thing, and I doubt that site got a lot of internet traffic

I'd like to know why the P3 websites for AHD in Edmonton are so much better than what STG did and had/have so many more updates. The SE leg of AHD had a ton of zoomable photos every month, video animations, etc. The last photo update from STG only had 3 photos! Even though the NW AHD website is clearly done by the same people who did the STG one, there appears to be a lot more photos and more info. Hopefully the SE leg of Stoney Trail will have a decent website with lots of information and frequent updates.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by mersar

Yep, Carmacks does have the Deerfoot mainline contract, and were a partner on STG. And they are also a partner with a group consisting of two the STG partners (Flatiron, Graham) that are bidding on the SE. The part with the SE actually is only covering Deerfoot south of 22X, possibly I'd suspect the current contract only goes to that point, its possible that whoever has the contract for the highways south of the city may take care of it up to there.

I think that's Volker Stevin. At least I've seen a lot of their vehicles around Okotoks.

[Oliver Klozov]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I think that's Volker Stevin. At least I've seen a lot of their vehicles around Okotoks.

Yup. Volker-Stevin has the maximum 7 Contract Management Areas (CMA) which encompasses pretty much all of southern Alberta. The only CMA's around Calgary they don't have is the one to the north and Deerfoot Trail.

When privatization happened, Carmacks had the 4 CMAs around Calgary for the first 5 years and Volker-Stevin had the 4 further south and east, Med Hat, Lethbridge, Crowsnest, etc. In the second wave of contracts, the province raised the maximum from 4 CMAs to 7 and V-S took 3 away from Carmacks. The other went to the contractor further north.

Deerfoot maintenance came later.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I'd like to know why the P3 websites for AHD in Edmonton are so much better than what STG did and had/have so many more updates. The SE leg of AHD had a ton of zoomable photos every month, video animations, etc. The last photo update from STG only had 3 photos! Even though the NW AHD website is clearly done by the same people who did the STG one, there appears to be a lot more photos and more info. Hopefully the SE leg of Stoney Trail will have a decent website with lots of information and frequent updates.

I'd say they didn't bother because that sounds like a lot of effort for very few viewers relatively speaking. Construction updates are nice for people like us, but overall it's not worth the money, and they're busy enough building the road as it is to go and send off pictures constantly to the website publisher. STG's way of thinking is "if it's not specified in our contract to do so, we don't do it." It's how you save money.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I'd say they didn't bother because that sounds like a lot of effort for very few viewers relatively speaking. Construction updates are nice for people like us, but overall it's not worth the money, and they're busy enough building the road as it is to go and send off pictures constantly to the website publisher. STG's way of thinking is "if it's not specified in our contract to do so, we don't do it." It's how you save money.

who are you? haha..stg insider?..

Alberta and Calgary agree on ring road study


By Rick Donkers, Calgary HeraldDecember 1, 2009 11:03 AM
CALGARY - The province and the city of Calgary announced an agreement Monday on how to move forward with developing a new plan for the oft-delayed ring road around the southwest section of the city.

The memorandum of understanding sets out each government's role during the ring road planning study, according to a news release from the province.

Alberta transportation minister Luke Ouelette called the memorandum a significant step in the ring road process.

“The planning study will look at an effective solution to address the immediate traffic issues for Calgary residents and enhance connections to the provincial highway network.” Ouelette said.

This latest planning process will include a look at previous transportation studies and alignment options.

Oulette and other provincial officials have long held that a ring road should go around the city, pointing to a route along 37th Street SW and through the Weaselhead Environmental Area.

But the city is taking steps towards a tighter circle for the southwest portion of the ring by moving ahead with plans to build an interchange at 37th Street and Glenmore Trail. That project was on hold for years while the province and Tsuu T'ina negotiated the possibility of running the southwest ring road through First Nations land. That deal fell apart in the summer when band members voted against the proposal.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Alberta+Calgary+agree+ring+road+study/2289949/story.html

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I'd say they didn't bother because that sounds like a lot of effort for very few viewers relatively speaking. Construction updates are nice for people like us, but overall it's not worth the money, and they're busy enough building the road as it is to go and send off pictures constantly to the website publisher. STG's way of thinking is "if it's not specified in our contract to do so, we don't do it." It's how you save money.

The province should have made this a condition of the contract. Also, it's not a question of whether or not the website gets a lot of traffic but one of accountability. We're paying for these projects and we should be able to track the progress of them. I'd also say that the province itself should be given a good kick in the butt for their even worse performance in this area. Just one more reason to clean house come next election.

[Wentworth]

^^ So the city is going ahead with building an interchange at 37th and Glenmore without any decision on routing of the future ring road?

I thought they were aiming to have some sort of decision by the end of November?

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by korzym

who are you? haha..stg insider?..

I worked on the NE Ring Road so I've come to know how they work. It's efficient and hectic at the same time, but it's how they come in on time and on budget. (and no, I didn't work directly for STG...I doubt I'd have time to even read these forums if I did!)

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Wentworth

^^ So the city is going ahead with building an interchange at 37th and Glenmore without any decision on routing of the future ring road?

I thought they were aiming to have some sort of decision by the end of November?

The 'decison' was a memorandum of understanding that City and Prov would work together to look at previous ideas and any new ideas for building the SW Ring Road, rather than each doing their own study & then later trying to merge their ideas together into a common plan.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Alberta+Calgary+agree+ring+road+study/2289949/story.html

Prov Transport SW Ring Road site:
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/4043.htm

The 37th / Glenmore interchange upgrade is still going ahead, but 'with provisions for the SW Ring Road'

[You Need A Thneed]

Drove the ring road again last night, first from Country Hills Blvd E to Beddington- then Beddington back to Metis.

A couple of thoughts:

Why didn't the NE section get flat lensed streetlights? Those things that they have for the NE section are horrible for light pollution. I'm very surprised they were allowed. They should replace them all immediately.

The Metis Trail interchange just is massive for the current amount of traffic that goes over it. Three lanes going northbound over the bridge. I understand that once the area is built out, that will be necessary, but it's mostly abandoned right now. I drove North from the interchange to 144th Ave, does anyone know if 144th Ave west of Metis turns towards the north and goes past Cross Iron Mills? Also, it hadn't occured to me until yesterday that Metis Trail will have a railway crossing there at 144th Ave.

The cloverleaf ramps at some interchanges - like Country Hills Blvd E - almost seem unnecessarily large. Better than too small I suppose.

I laugh at the bridge clearance signs on the tall Deerfoot bridges - something like "10.6 M". What's the point of putting up a sign like that when the bridge right beside is obviously much lower?