Province proposes Airdrie bypass to help ease QEII congestion north of Calgary

The Alberta government is launching a functional planning study to explore options for a future Airdrie bypass, which could help ease worsening traffic congestion on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway north of Calgary.

While no design options have been assessed yet, a government web page suggests the bypass could extend from the northeast corner of Stoney Trail, east of Airdrie, to connect to Highway 2 near Carstairs.

The proposed bypass would serve as an alternative route around congested areas on Highway 2 and provide a more convenient connection for trucks traveling between the QEII and the Trans Canada Highway, states a government web page devoted to the planning study.

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

“As Airdrie, Balzac and surrounding areas continue to grow, a future bypass east of Airdrie will be needed to accommodate increasing traffic demand,” the page states.

Airdrie currently has a population of more than 90,000 people, according to the city’s latest civic census, making it the fifth most populous city in the province.

At the same time, north Calgary continues to expand toward Airdrie, with thousands of Calgarians now living north of Stoney Trail.

As the two cities continues to grow toward each other, 125,000 vehicles now pass along the corridor between Calgary and Airdrie every day, according to the province. About 35,000 vehicles travel to and from the Cross Iron Mills shopping centre in Balzac, which lies between the two cities.

The stretch of highway between Calgary and Airdrie includes three lanes in each direction and is expected to reach capacity in the next 20 to 30 years, the province says. To address this, the Alberta government eventually plans to expand the freeway to up to five lanes in each direction along this stretch.

Design and construction of the proposed bypass is not on the current three-year provincial construction program and remains contingent on future funding approval.

The functional planning study is set to run until mid-2027. The review will determine the best route for a future bypass, as well as identify where it should connect to local roads, how it will support municipal development and prepare plans for right-of-way acquisition.

The study will also assess physical constraints, property and access impacts and any wildlife or environmental sensitivities.

Those who travel along the corridor can provide feedback via an online survey until Sept. 29.