McKnight Boulevard & John Laurie Boulevard
With the 16 Avenue N widening project nearing completion, does anyone know if there are any plans to improve McKnight Blvd, which arguably handles more traffic? I know the city used to had some plans on their website for McKnight between 12 St NE and John Laurie Blvd, which included widen to 6 lanes and smoothing out the John Laurie/McKnight corner – however the plans seem to have been removed from the website. Ultimate plans call for McKnight Blvd to be widened to 6 lanes between Deerfoot Trail and 19 St NE, with interchanges at 12 St NE/Aviation Blvd, 19 St NE/McCall Way, and Barlow Trail, however there is no timeline for this project.
McKnight Blvd is usually at a crawl during peak periods as it is one of the few E-W connectors in the north. Here’s what I think should be done to improve McKnight: ASAP Install LH turn signal for EB McKnight to NB Deerfoot. Traffic is required to make a left turn to access the ramp and routinely backs up into the LH thru lane during peak periods. Installing an arrow (which could be a “yield on solid green” during non-peak periods) could make that intersection safer. Innocently its #1 on the city’s list of intersections requiring signals however to date nothing has happened. The signals could be synchronized with the 12 St NE signals to optimize traffic flow. Short Term Widen McKnight Blvd to 6 lanes between 19 St NE and 4 St NW. What would probably happen is McKnight would remain 4 lanes across Deerfoot Trail (similar to Deerfoot Trail as it crosses Glenmore Trail) as the existing bridge probably would not allow additional lanes. Also improve the JLB/Shaganappi Trail intersection to allow for 3 through lanes each way for JLB, dual left turn lanes in all directions, and 2 through lanes for Shaganappi Trail. Short-Medium Term Widen McKnight & John Laurie Blvds to 6 lanes between 4 St NW and 14 St NW. Slightly smooth out the McKnight/John Laurie corner, which may involve minimal expropriation, and possibly add signals at 48 Ave NW. This could be included in the above mentioned “Short Term” project. Consideration could be made to widen John Laurie Blvd to 6 lanes between Brenner Drive and 14 St NW. Long Term If not done already, widen John Laurie Blvd to 6 lanes between Brenner Drive and 14 St NW. Construct interchanges at Shaganappi Trail, 12 St NE, 19 St NE, and Barlow Trail. Improve Deerfoot Trail interchange to make freeflow with 3 thru lanes each way on McKnight Blvd. Possibly close or limit access on some of the minor intersections between 14 St NW & Shaganappi Trail. Any thoughts? |
two years ago I saw plans to redesign mcknight and JL. A bunch of homes on the inside corner would be bought and at least a bridge put in. these plans were featured on a hallway bulletin board in the engg building at the u of c, i think it was the top floor of e block.
I'd suggest checking the city's budget for any indications of what they'll do, as crowchild is set to be renovated around 2011-12 i believe..or a year or two later. Unfortunately the 3-1-1 line is just a means to funnel legitimate inquiries like the one you have to phone operators that are clueless and will only go to the city's website, where some pages haven't been updated in over a year. A great way to give themselves the power to do whatever they wish to do on your dime. other than that corner I'm not sure if there are plans in the pipes to improve the route you bring up. Perhaps there are provisions in future budgets for mcknight between deerfoot and JL that I can vaguely recollect, but again that would require reference to the city budget I disagree about lights on the mcknight-deerfoot bridge. I'd rather see a larger turn off lane. Traffic goes both ways...westbound traffic would become much worse. I like the idea of upgrading JLB and mcknight up to the sw corner of nosehill park, east-west options suck. However I don't think two parrallel highways will fly if it goes past that area good thread, thanks for opening a discussion on the subject |
With the full opening of the ring road, traffic on JL/McK will be much reduced, at least according to the city. There were some pretty major plans to upgrade the entire route but from what I last remember, it's all on hold. Personally, as someone who used to use the road every time heading east, we never bother anymore. And I'm sure a lot of people will follow once the connection to Deerfoot opens.
Then again, once Crowchild is finally done in 2011/2, what major road projects are on the table? The city always seems to have one or three major ones on the go at any give time. Maybe JL/McK will be revisted then. |
Well one of the likely next big projects is still on Crowchild, being some part of the 24th/16th/5th/Kensingten mess.
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12th ave interchange is pretty important right now. 19th and Barlow too. When barlow to the airport closes, that will increase the traffic on mcknight, it will probably be essential to build all three. If the airport trail tunnel isn't built, the Mcknight corridor will have to be upgraded to 4 lanes each way freeway to be able to handle the extra traffic.
Widening the stretch of McKnight between edmonton trail and 4th street nw to be three lanes each way would help out a lot too. Give it a similar treatment to what 16th Ave got, and upzone for redevelopment too, at the key intersections. |
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Not sure if it holds any merit or not, but some long time friends of my family were in talks with the city to purchase their home on McKnight and First Street NW not long ago (2 or 3 years ago) in conjunction with plans to widen McKnight from Deerfoot westbound to John Laurie. I'm unaware if the city purchased the property or not, but it seemed like most of their neighbors were in the same talks.
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Way back when I was commuting from University back home to Airdrie I would be in favor on a northbound turning light onto Deerfoot but now I can understand doing that would add way too much congestion onto Deerfoot. There still is a point at around 3pm (right when I usually got off) where its almost impossible to make that turn since congestion going the other way is not enough for people to stop and let you by and too much to find a gap. 64th is better but not during holiday shopping season and country hills was only 2 lanes back then Im glad they are finally getting a viable westbound to northbound alternative with the ring road however its around 10 years late.
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Having said that, I think it will be an important part of Calgary's future traffic system to have McKnight be free-flow from Metis to Deerfoot. As a side note, speaking of future city traffic plans, I would think/hope that 16th and 19th St NE intersection is on the radar for the future, leading to having free-flow from East of the city to Deerfoot. |
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There are lots of people, however, that use Barlow to get from the NE to the North. These are the people that will have to find a different route - a route that's already packed at rush hour. Eventually, city growth in the North, and also East of the ring road will make the 47th street (flyover - won't be an interchange) and 52nd street interchange necessary, and a little bit after that, the 68th street Interchange will be required too. |
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EDIT: According to the City's forcasting toolbox (Link), the Crowchild upgrades are currently planned for 2025 to 2035...yikes. They should be done now IMO. |
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Of course, this version of the plan predates the Tsuu T'ina vote on the SWRR, and the election next year will no doubt swing things one way or another, so say nothing of changes in funding. But I don't think that inner city interchanges (I can't believe I just called McKnight inner city) are on the near horizon. Many, I don't think on the long term horizon. There's a limited benefit in spending $20 million on an interchange for something like 16th Ave / 19th St just to reduce the psychic toll of a few seconds at a red light; conversely, something like Crowchild/Kensington which might provide a little higher benefit has a lot more community resistance. |
The Crowchild Trail interchanges were on the annual Mayor's report to Calgarians a couple of years ago as a project to go ahead soon - something along those lines anyway, it listed a budget of $300 million or something like that.
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I think once the Provincial economy picks up again, and the rings roads are well on their way, the Province will fix up some of the Deerfoot interchanges. |
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Thanks for starting this thread - Mcknight-JLB definitely needs upgrading as well so there is a decent E-W route in the north. |
Just getting things to flow a bit more freely on McKnight from Deerfoot to 4 Street NW will even help! There's no room to build interchanges at Centre Street, Edmonton Trail, and 4 Street NW, so I'm not sure how a free flow could even be accomplished!
Also smoothing out the curve in the McKnight/JLB transition will be welcomed! |
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As for interchanges there are not possible, I always thought that a tunnel right under the current road with no local access between Deerfoot and west of 4th St NW would work well, leave 4 lanes on top for local access and alternate route if there is an accident in the tunnel. It would be a tight fit for 6 lanes but it might be possible without additional land. 4 plus a shoulder would be best. |
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