Close to 70 people packed into the Springbank Heritage Hall on Feb.13 just after 6 p.m. to learn more about future upgrades for sections of Highway 1.
Arthur Gordon and Mario Kotowski with CastleGlenn Consultants Inc., the group conducting the study, updated the crowd on their findings for the Highway 1 corridor between Range Road 33 and Stoney Trail.
The purpose of the study is to determine a location for a new interchange between Highway 563 and Valley Ridge Boulevard. Information from the group indicates the Highway 563 interchange needs to be widened to four lanes over Highway 1 within approximately 20 years to accommodated an estimated traffic level of 5,000 vehicles per day per lane.
“We have three different interchanges identified,” said Gordon. Those include keeping it at the current location at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 563, creating a new interchange at 133 Street or 500 metres west of 133 Street.
Last June public consultations were held over two days. In total, 214 people came out. Results indicated 61 per cent of people want to see a new interchange located at the existing site. Eleven per cent want it at 133 Street, seven want two interchanges and 21 per cent didn’t have a preference.
Kotowski said expanding the current location is “a desirable location from the other (suggested) interchanges.”
It will cost $85 million dollars, while the other two options would cost anywhere between $114 million and $133 million. Kotowski said part of the increased cost is due to the amount of earthwork that would be required to reduce the existing grades to the current three per cent standard for highways.
“We’re happy with option C,” said Gordon and Val Robertson after the option to upgrade the interchange at its’ current location was presented. The couple said they live in the area and hope the future upgrades won’t affect their local road network.
Gordon said any impacts on local roads will be determined via Rocky View County and not the province.
The public open house was Phase 3 of a five-phase process. Gordon said the next step includes designing the interchange and corridor improvements before bringing it to another open house.
The last step will be incorporating feedback from the open house into final design plans before bringing recommendations to Alberta Transportation.
Information provided by CastleGlenn said widening of the corridor near Old Banff Coach Road and Highway 1 is needed within seven to 10 years to six lanes when 31,000 vehicles per day is expected; eight lanes is needed within 20 to 30 years to accommodate an estimated 50,000 vehicles per day; and 10 lanes in 50 years.
For copies of the presentation, visit transportation.alberta.ca.
