QE2 commute in winter from Red Deer - Moving from BC

[quasar81]

Hello to Albertans out there...

I have a question regarding out 'potential' move from BC.

My wife is getting a good job offer from Red Deer regional hospital and she needs it to get some practical experience needed to get a step in door as a specialist for which positions are rare. Not to go into details – it is pretty important gig. So, We were thinking of taking it up.

My company has offices in Edmonton and Calgary. So, I was thinking I can work at one of those offices while we buy home in Red Deer. Clarification: I am okay with upto 1.75hr of commute. Done that before. So that is not the question.

I have heard QE2 highway gets pretty bad in winter. Question is how often? Once every week or once every month? I can put up at relatives if there is a blizzard or something once in 2 weeks or so, but it might me tough if it is every day…… Need input from folks out there. BTW, I know cold driving. Have lived in Northern Minnesota(upto -15C and below 0 for months) for 6 years. Just mentioning before somebody say I am in for winter driving surprise.

Thanks in advance for your inputs!!!

Regards,
Quasar

[EdmTrekker]

2-3 times a year the road may be bad and rarely closed. Its THE major road with large volumes of traffic that link Edmonton and Calgary. As for the 90 minute drive...depends exactly where your offices are. It could take 40 minutes getting out of downtown Calgary or 30 in Edmonton downtown to the edge of the city. I know people who have chosen to move in Lacombe because the wide worked in Red Deer and he worked here. That cut out 30 minutes each way for him and she did not mind the drive or Lacombe which is a nice place.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by quasar81

Hello to Albertans out there...

I have a question regarding out 'potential' move from BC.

My wife is getting a good job offer from Red Deer regional hospital and she needs it to get some practical experience needed to get a step in door as a specialist for which positions are rare. Not to go into details – it is pretty important gig. So, We were thinking of taking it up.

My company has offices in Edmonton and Calgary. So, I was thinking I can work at one of those offices while we buy home in Red Deer. Clarification: I am okay with upto 1.75hr of commute. Done that before. So that is not the question.

I have heard QE2 highway gets pretty bad in winter. Question is how often? Once every week or once every month? I can put up at relatives if there is a blizzard or something once in 2 weeks or so, but it might me tough if it is every day…… Need input from folks out there. BTW, I know cold driving. Have lived in Northern Minnesota(upto -15C and below 0 for months) for 6 years. Just mentioning before somebody say I am in for winter driving surprise.

Thanks in advance for your inputs!!!

Regards,
Quasar

I commuted to Red Deer regularly from Edmonton for about three years while running some construction projects down there. While generally the QE2 is in fair shape, i have seen it in extremely treacherous condition, that will happen at least half a dozen times a season. Be wary of other drivers, and drive the right vehicle.. IE an AWD or 4WD with good winter tires

It seems to be the worst north from Red Deer around Ponoka when the weather is bad, but from Red Deer south to Innisfail seems to be even worse. Both of those areas are where you're most likely to hit glare ice

When it does get bad, just take it slow, keep lots of room in front of you, and as has saved my butt a few times, if you are driving in bad weather and you come up to a slow down in traffic keep any eye behind you. Idiots will still be going 130 when there's glare ice and near zero visibility. Just make sure you give yourself some room to maneuver out of the way

I'd 2nd the Lacombe suggestion as well

[kcantor]

as noted, i would think about making my decision based on where your company's offices are... south or west side of edmonton onto highway 2 will take a great deal less time than getting out of downtown calgary or the beltline or the south. if office location is a wash or comes out in calgary's favour, you might want to consider claresholm in the same manner as lacombe has been mentioned on the edmonton side.