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Alberta Highway 2

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Highway 2 marker Highway 2 marker
Highway 2
Map
Highway 2 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Length1,273 km[a] (791 mi)
Major junctions
South end US 89 at U.S. border in Carway
Major intersections
North end Highway 43 near Grande Prairie
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Specialized and rural municipalities
Major citiesCalgary, Airdrie, Red Deer, Lacombe, Leduc, Edmonton, St. Albert
Highway system
Highway 1X Highway 2A

Highway 2 (also known as the Queen Elizabeth II Highway[b]) is a major highway in Alberta that stretches from the Canada–United States border through Calgary and Edmonton to Grande Prairie. Running primarily north to south for approximately 1,273 kilometres (791 mi), it is the longest and busiest highway in the province carrying more than 170,000 vehicles per day near Downtown Calgary. The Fort Macleod—Edmonton section forms a portion of the CANAMEX Corridor that links Alaska to Mexico. More than half of Alberta's 4 million residents live in the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor created by Highway 2.

U.S. Route 89 enters Alberta from Montana and becomes Highway 2, a two-lane road that traverses the foothills of southern Alberta to Fort Macleod where it intersects Highway 3 and becomes divided. In Calgary, the route is a busy freeway named Deerfoot Trail that continues into central Alberta as the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, bypassing Red Deer. In Edmonton, it is briefly concurrent with freeway sections of Highways 216 and 16 before bisecting St. Albert and reverting to two lanes en route to Athabasca. It bends northwest along the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake as the Northern Woods and Water Route into High Prairie, before turning north to Peace River, west to Fairview and finally south to Grande Prairie where it ends at Highway 43.

Originally numbered as Highway 1, Highway 2 is the oldest major highway in Alberta and the first to stretch north into the Peace Country. It was historically known as the Calgary and Edmonton Trail, Sunshine Trail, and the Blue Trail. Major changes include the construction of a divided expressway between Calgary and Edmonton in the 1960s, realignment along Deerfoot Trail in the 1980s, and twinning south of Nanton in the 1990s. A Highway 43 realignment in 1998 shortened Highway 2 by nearly 90 km (56 mi) to its current northern terminus in Grande Prairie; it previously extended west to British Columbia Highway 2 at the border.[3] Several projects including median widening and interchange upgrades have been undertaken in the 2010s to increase the safety of the highway's busier sections, with further improvements either under construction or awaiting funding. Bypasses of Fort Macleod, Claresholm, and Nanton are planned as part of Alberta's effort to make its portion of the CANAMEX Corridor free-flowing from border to border.

Route description

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Overview

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Much of Highway 2 is a core route in the National Highway System of Canada: between Fort Macleod and Edmonton and between Donnelly and Grimshaw. The speed limit along most parts of the highway between Fort Macleod and Morinville is 110 km/h (68 mph), and in urban areas, such as through Claresholm, Nanton, Calgary and Edmonton, it ranges from 50 km/h (31 mph) to 110 km/h (68 mph). During the winter, accidents are common on the stretch of the highway between Calgary and Edmonton as the weather can change rapidly and drivers underestimate the conditions, overwhelming emergency services attempting to respond.[4] As the main north–south access in Alberta, Highway 2 is the preferred path of the CANAMEX Corridor.[5] Between Fort Macleod and Morinville, Highway 2 maintains no fewer than four lanes of traffic and is largely a freeway between Okotoks and Edmonton, with improvements underway to eliminate the at-grade crossings that remain.[6]

Southern Alberta

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Foothills

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Highway 2 begins at the United States border, as the two lane U.S. Route 89 crosses into Canada at Carway.[7] The road proceeds north through the Rocky Mountain Foothills to a brief concurrency with Highway 501, before bisecting the town of Cardston.[8] At the north end of town, the highway enters Blood Indian Reserve No. 148 and Highway 5 splits west to Waterton Lakes National Park; it is briefly concurrent with Highway 2 before splitting east to cross the St. Mary River en route to Magrath and Lethbridge. Highway 2 continues north to another short concurrency with Highway 505 during which it crosses the Waterton River to Stand Off, continuing across the Belly River to Fort Macleod in the Municipal District of Willow Creek.[6]

Less than 1 km before meeting Highway 3 southeast of Fort Macleod, Highway 2 becomes a divided highway.[6] Highway 3 splits east to Lethbridge, and the combined Highways 2 and 3 turn due west through town as a divided highway at a speed limit of 50 km/h. West of town, the highways diverge at an interchange; Highway 3 continues west as the Crowsnest Highway to Pincher Creek and British Columbia, and Highway 2 turns north across the Oldman River as a divided highway.[9] It continues approximately 25 km (16 mi) north to Granum from which Highway 519 splits to the east. In tandem with Highway 23, Highway 519 is often used by CANAMEX traffic to bypass Fort Macleod.[10] Further north on Highway 2, the towns of Claresholm and Nanton are each bisected at a reduced speed limit of 50 km/h. The highway is concurrent with Highway 533 for its brief distance through Nanton.[11]

North of Nanton, the highway continues into the Foothills County to a major junction with Highways 23 and 2A at High River, after which it veers northwest to cross the Highwood River.[9] On the other side of the river, a second interchange provides access to Okotoks via Highways 7 and 2A, and Highway 2 continues north across the Sheep River to De Winton where Highway 2A splits into southwest Calgary as Macleod Trail, and Highway 2 veers northeast toward the Bow River valley and southeast Calgary.[12]

Calgary

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From its split with Macleod Trail, Highway 2 becomes a major 46 km (29 mi) freeway named Deerfoot Trail that descends to cross the Bow River before entering Calgary city limits. In the city it crosses the river twice more, jogging back and forth between its east and west bank.[12][13] The freeway intersects the Stoney Trail ring road at the south end of Calgary, with signage recommending that traffic en route to Calgary International Airport, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat use eastbound Stoney Trail as a bypass.[14] Deerfoot Trail then merges with the major routes of Anderson Road and Bow Bottom Trail. Crossing Glenmore Trail (Highway 8), Memorial Drive (access to downtown Calgary) and 16 Avenue NE (Highway 1), Deerfoot Trail continues into north Calgary past the Calgary International Airport en route to a second interchange with Stoney Trail at the Calgary city limit. The Deerfoot Trail designation is dropped, and the highway carries on north into Rocky View County.[15]

Central Alberta

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Queen Elizabeth II Highway

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The Queen Elizabeth II Highway bisects Airdrie.
Queen Elizabeth II Highway between Leduc and Edmonton
Highway 2 is a lightly travelled divided highway near Claresholm.
Near De Winton, Highway 2A splits to the southwest, connecting Calgary to Okotoks.

Highway 2 exits north Calgary as a six-lane, 261 km (162 mi)[16] freeway called the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, a name it retains until the southern city limit of Edmonton.[15] It passes the major shopping centre of CrossIron Mills, bisecting the city of Airdrie several kilometres later.[8] North of Airdrie, the route extends to Highway 72 before bypassing Crossfield and entering Mountain View County, continuing north past interchanges at Highways 581 and 582 leading to the communities of Carstairs and Didsbury, respectively. The highway meets Highway 27 at a cloverleaf interchange near Olds, approximately halfway between Calgary and Red Deer. Highway 2 enters Red Deer County and proceeds to interchanges with Highway 587 at Bowden, Highways 54 and 590 at Innisfail, and Highway 42 near Penhold prior to the city of Red Deer. South of the city, from McKenzie Road to 19 Street, the highway widens to six lanes through an area known as Gasoline Alley. It is a popular stop for travellers and truckers including fuel stations and food establishments on either side of the highway, accessible via the interchange at McKenzie Road.[17] Continuing north the highway again reduces to four lanes, veering left to bypass Red Deer to the west while Gaetz Avenue splits north into the city.[18]

West of Red Deer, Highway 2 passes Red Deer College and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame before descending into the valley of the Red Deer River.[9] It crosses the river alongside a railroad bridge, then curves north to interchanges with Highways 11 and 11A, leading west to Rocky Mountain House and Sylvan Lake, respectively.[19] North of 11A, the highway crosses the Blindman River into Lacombe County to an interchange with Highway 597 at Blackfalds, curving slightly northeast to an interchange at Highway 12 at Lacombe.[8]

North of Lacombe, Highway 2 is again briefly concurrent with Highway 2A before reaching Highway 53 near Ponoka just after crossing the Battle River.[20] The four lane highway continues approximately 30 km (19 mi) through gentle rolling hills of aspen parkland in Ponoka County to an interchange at Highway 611 where it enters Wetaskiwin County.[21] Near Bearhills Lake, the highway meets Highway 13, providing access east to Wetaskiwin and Camrose, and west to Pigeon Lake. North of an interchange with Highway 616 the highway enters Leduc County, bending northeast toward the city of Leduc.[8]

After entering Leduc city limits, Highway 2 meets Highway 2A, which proceeds southeast through Leduc's southern suburbs as a four lane arterial road. Highway 2 immediately travels over Highway 39 at a diamond interchange, serving as the main access to central Leduc and ultimately leading west to Drayton Valley. Now six lanes wide, Highway 2 curves slightly to the northeast to pass on the east side of Edmonton International Airport, still 13 km (8.1 mi) south of Edmonton city limits.[21] The grass median significantly widens to over 100 m (330 ft), and access to the airport and Nisku is provided by an interchange at Airport Road.[22] Traffic levels increase as commuters travel to and from the Leduc area to Edmonton, and the highway meets a second interchange at Highway 19/625 which serves the airport. The highway curves slightly to the northeast to an interchange at 41 Avenue SW, marking the Edmonton city limit and the end of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway designation.[23]

Edmonton and Sturgeon County

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In Edmonton, Highway 2 follows Calgary Trail/Gateway Blvd, Whitemud Drive, Anthony Henday Drive, Yellowhead Trail, and St. Albert Trail.
The Quesnell Bridge, built in 1968, carries Highway 2 over the North Saskatchewan River in central Edmonton
The Quesnell Bridge, built in 1968, carries Highway 2 over the North Saskatchewan River in central Edmonton
Looking east at Morinville; Highway 2 passes west of the town
Looking east at Morinville; Highway 2 passes west of the town

Five separately named routes are designated as Highway 2 in the cities of Edmonton and St. Albert, denoted by varying levels of signage. At the south end of Edmonton, the highway significantly widens to five lanes each way. The northbound lanes become Gateway Boulevard and the southbound lanes Calgary Trail, and the two carriageways diverge to pass Gateway Park, located in the median of the highway and accessible from both directions.[23] North of the park, the two directions of travel come back together, now at a reduced speed limit of 90 km/h (56 mph), to meet at the major east–west arterial of Ellerslie Road, providing access to Edmonton's southern residential areas of Heritage Valley, Ellerslie, and Summerside. This diamond interchange is intertwined with the major cloverstack interchange at Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) which immediately follows. Henday is a ring road that surrounds Edmonton, connecting Highway 2 to Highway 16. Signage directs traffic destined for Lloydminster to use the southeast portion of Henday to reach Highway 16 north of Sherwood Park. Traffic destined for Jasper, Cold Lake, and Fort McMurray are directed onto the southwest portion of Henday to reach Highway 16 at Edmonton's west end.[24]

The freeway ends as three lanes of Gateway Boulevard eventually widen to four, travelling north past South Edmonton Common through south Edmonton as a busy urban street to Whitemud Drive.[23] Calgary Trail carries the southbound lanes of Highway 2 approximately 225 m (738 ft) to the west of Gateway Boulevard. The designation of Highway 2 turns west onto Whitemud Drive and it becomes a freeway once again, though now only at 80 km/h (50 mph), unlike the 100 km/h limit of the highway through Calgary.[25]

Whitemud Drive descends to cross Whitemud Creek before curving north to span the North Saskatchewan River on the Quesnell Bridge.[23] It then turns back west to meet Anthony Henday Drive again, now in the vicinity of West Edmonton Mall. Henday assumes the designation of Highway 2 for a 6.7 km (4 mi) stretch to Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16), though the concurrency is unsigned. Yellowhead Trail continues east into Edmonton as a six lane freeway, again unsigned as Highway 2, until St. Albert Trail which proceeds northwest through light industrial and commercial areas before crossing Anthony Henday Drive to exit Edmonton into St. Albert.[23] The six lane road is the main artery of the city with a speed limit of 60 km/h (37 mph), and crosses the Sturgeon River before exiting the city to the north into Sturgeon County as a divided highway approximately 5 km (3 mi) beyond the Sturgeon River. North of the city, the highway intersects Highway 37 before an interchange at Highway 642 west of Morinville, the main access for the town.[23]

Northern Alberta

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Westlock County and Athabasca

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West of the town of Athabasca, Highway 2 is part of the Northern Woods and Water Route

Highway 2 reduces to a two lane highway immediately after Morinville, extending north past Manawan and Haley Lakes into Westlock County and a three-way intersection with Highway 18 near Clyde and Westlock.[26] The highway turns due east, briefly concurrent with Highway 18 for 1 km, before turning northeast through increasingly wooded areas and a short concurrency with Highway 663 to Athabasca.[8][27] The highway descends through the town at 50 km/h as 50 Street toward the Athabasca River valley, before turning west to parallel the river as 50 Avenue.[28] From this point until its split with Highway 49 over 200 km (120 mi) to the west, Highway 2 is designated as the Northern Woods and Water Route.[29][30]

The speed limit returns to 100 km/h as the highway climbs from the valley toward Baptiste Lake.[31] At the lake, the two lane Highway 2 turns north to follow the west bank of the Athabasca River for approximately 35 km (22 mi) before turning west at Lawrence Lake toward the unincorporated community of Hondo. There, it meets the northern terminus of Highway 44 before crossing the river and continuing northwest for 50 km to the southern terminus of Highway 88 in Slave Lake. Highway 88 follows the east bank of Lesser Slave Lake before a long journey north to Fort Vermilion.[9] In Slave Lake, Highway 2 bisects the town at a limit of 60 km/h, before returning to 100 km/h west of Caribou Trail, following the scenic southern shore of Lesser Slave Lake to Highway 33 near Kinuso, which leads south to Swan Hills. At Driftpile the highway crosses a river of the same name en route to High Prairie at the west end of Lesser Slave Lake.[8][32]

Peace Country

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14 km (8.7 mi) west of High Prairie, the highway turns north past Winagami Lake to the town of McLennan on the south shore of Kimiwan Lake. It carries on west to a junction with Highway 49, locally known as 'Donnelly Corner'.[33] The two lane highway proceeds north through aspen parkland past Lac Magloire to the town of Nampa,[34] after which it crosses the Heart River, a tributary of Peace River. The highway then curves to the northwest and descends along the steep east bank of the Heart River into the town of Peace River.[35] A passing lane aids eastbound traffic climbing from the valley.

Highway 2 over the Peace River on the Dunvegan Bridge

The two lane highway continues west through the town of Peace River before crossing the river of the same name. Climbing on the west bank of the river, it widens to four lanes and meets Alberta Highway 684 (Shaftesbury Trail) before exiting Peace River, reducing to two lanes, and passing north of Peace River Airport. 5 km (3.1 mi) east Cardinal Lake, Highway 2 meets Highway 35, the Mackenzie Highway. Highway 2 turns south to Grimshaw, while Highway 35 turns north, following the Peace River to High Level.[36] Highway 2 bisects Grimshaw as 51 Street, then exits the town before turning west shortly thereafter, winding through the aspen parkland of the Peace Country to the town of Fairview, in which a campus of Grande Prairie Regional College is immediately south of the highway. The road continues west out of Fairview as Highway 64A, while Highway 2 turns south to exit the town, curving west then south again toward the Peace River valley. It again curves west to descend along the river's steep north bank.[36] The highway crosses the Peace River on the Dunvegan Bridge, a suspension bridge over 700 m (2,300 ft) long.[37][38]: 50  Passing lanes assist traffic climbing from the valley on both sides of the river.[36]

The highway continues 20 km (12 mi) south to the town of Rycroft, where Highway 49 splits west carrying the remainder of the Northern Woods and Water Route to the British Columbia border.[36] Highway 2 continues south to Highway 59 where it becomes a divided highway before bisecting Sexsmith and continuing to Highway 43 north of Grande Prairie, its northern terminus from 1998 to 2019. Prior to 1998, Highway 2 followed Highway 43 into British Columbia, where it became British Columbia Highway 2 to Dawson Creek. In 2019, when Highway 43 was moved to Highway 43X and bypassed Grande Prairie, Highway 2 was extended 2.4 km (1.5 mi) south to Grande Prairie city limits along its former, pre-1998 alignment;[39] in Grande Prairie it becomes 100 Street.

Traffic

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Volume

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Near Okotoks, Highway 2 carried more than 54,000 vehicles per day in 2019

Highway 2 has a wide range of traffic levels along its length. At the south end, the highway is a lightly travelled two-lane road from the United States border to Fort Macleod. It then doubles to four lanes and volume progressively increases until De Winton north of Okotoks, but remains relatively light.[40] Within Calgary, volume climbs exponentially on Deerfoot Trail through the southern suburbs of the city reaching more than 170,000 vehicles per day at Memorial Drive near downtown, making that stretch of Highway 2 the busiest roadway in western Canada. Volume swiftly drops north of Beddington Trail in Calgary, but remains moderate on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway until Edmonton where it again increases to nearly 100,000 vehicles per day south of the city. Whitemud Drive, Anthony Henday Drive, Yellowhead Trail, and St. Albert Trail are all busy expressways carrying large volumes of local traffic, especially at peak hours. North of St. Albert the drop in traffic is brisk, increasingly so after Morinville where the highway is no longer divided. Volume remains very light through most of the Peace Country before briefly exceeding 20,000 vehicles per day near the northern terminus in Grande Prairie.[40]

Alberta Transportation publishes yearly traffic volume data for provincial highways.[40] The table compares the annual average daily traffic (AADT) at several locations along Highway 2 using data from 2019, expressed as an average daily vehicle count over the span of a year (AADT).[41]

Location Volume
Cardston 5,450
Fort Macleod 6,110
High River 18,760
Memorial Dr
Calgary
173,500
32 St
Red Deer
51,940
Nisku 99,710
Morinville 6,400
Peace River 14,430
Grande Prairie 23,620

Enforcement and collisions

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The Queen Elizabeth II Highway between Calgary and Edmonton is prone to collisions in the winter, sometimes resulting in hours of delay, closures, and redirection of traffic onto sections of the adjacent Highway 2A.[42] Deerfoot Trail in Calgary is also prone to a higher than average number of collisions due to its high volume and concentration of interchanges within a relatively short distance.[43]

Alberta Transportation has established several zones on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway where the 110 km/h speed limit is enforced by aircraft.[44][45] The program is conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and was relaunched in 2013 after being on hiatus due to budget concerns.[46] Several aircraft are used including the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter. The number of tickets written during the operation is generally not enough to negate the cost of operating the aircraft, but police have stated that they are catching drivers committing infractions over a longer stretch of the road.[47] In 2016, Leduc proposed photo radar speed enforcement on Highway 2 between the south end of the city and Edmonton's southern limit to catch excessive speeders, pending provincial approval.[48][49] It is already in use within Edmonton and Leduc limits, but it would be the first implementation on Highway 2. Some residents complained that revenue was the main objective of the project.[50] Leduc mayor Greg Krischke said that the project is not a "cash cow" and the primary objective is to reduce excessive speed and increase safety for first responders.[50] An Alberta Transportation study shows that 100,000 vehicles exceeded 140 km/h (87 mph) on the stretch in 2015, and Krischke said that drivers who do not want tickets should abide by the speed limit.[50] However, in 2014, less than 10% of injury collisions in Alberta involved drivers travelling at unsafe speeds.[51] Tailgating was a factor in almost 50% of injury collisions.[51]

History

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Early years

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Looking west on Stoney Trail NE at its interchange with Deerfoot Trail in north Calgary

Trails in the vicinity of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor long predate the province of Alberta itself, which was not split from the Northwest Territories until 1905. The Calgary and Edmonton Trail was established as several trails ran south from a fur trade post that had been established at Fort Edmonton prior to 1800. The northern portion of the route between Calgary and Edmonton was traveled by David Thompson in 1800.[52] The more modern trail was blazed by John McDougall in 1873 as far as Morley and extended to Calgary two years later. Development of the trail allowed mail service between Calgary and Edmonton in July 1883.[53]

By 1930, the entire present-day alignment of Highway 2 through to the British Columbia west of Grande Prairie had already been established as the Sunshine Trail. [54] It was a gravelled highway that ran from the US border at Carway directly through Macleod, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton to Clyde where it became a dirt road. North of Clyde, it was the only highway that extended north into the Peace Country, bending east to Athabasca then northwest to Peace River. A secondary dirt road proceeded southwest to Dunvegan and the current terminus at Grande Prairie.[54]

When Alberta highways first received numbers, the present-day Highway 2 was originally designated as Highway 1. When the major east—west route through Calgary that had been previously designated as Highway 2 was assigned to the Trans-Canada Highway, the province's major north—south route became Highway 2. A review of historical Alberta official road maps shows this to be the case prior to 1941.[55] Highway 2 is one of the oldest major highways in Alberta, and the first to stretch north into the Peace Country as it long predates Highways 43 and 63.

Later years

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The intermittent sections of two-lane road between Calgary and Edmonton now designated as Highway 2A previously comprised the primary route between Calgary and Edmonton, Passing through Carstairs, the heart of Red Deer, Blackfalds, Ponoka, and Wetaskiwin. Plans were developed in the late 1950s for a new four-lane superhighway to connect Calgary and Edmonton, creating a safer route that would bypass most of the communities along the way. The plan to bypass Red Deer and Lacombe was presented by minister Gordon Taylor on September 15, 1960 at a meeting in Red Deer.[56] The new $7 million divided highway would alleviate congestion on the existing route through Red Deer, splitting from the existing route south of the city and veering west to cross the Red Deer and Blindman Rivers before rejoining the old highway north of Lacombe. The routing was somewhat of a surprise to residents, who had expected the new bypass to pass east of the city.[56] The previous route had been carrying 5,000 vehicles per day. The bypass opened on November 21, 1962.[57][38]: 34  The previous segment of two-lane highway to the east, which had been carrying 5,000 vehicles per day prior to the opening of the expressway,[58] was renamed Highway 2A and now carries commuter traffic over the Blindman River between Blackfalds and Red Deer.

In northern Alberta, 1966 saw work begin on initial grading for Highway 2 in the vicinity of Peace River. The section from Hondo to Slave Lake was completed and opened to traffic on October 18, 1966. The 8-span, 125-metre (410 ft) bridge over the Peace River was completed in 1968.[38]: 50  An interchange at the highway's DeWinton turnoff south of Calgary was planned for 1974.[59]

On May 23, 2005, the section between Calgary and Edmonton was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Highway in honour of the Queen's visit to Alberta as part of the province's centennial celebrations; the first road sign was personally unveiled by the Queen. It was the first highway in Canada to be named for her.[60] Twinning south of Calgary continued in the 1990s. A Highway 43 realignment in 1998 shortened Highway 2 by nearly 90 km (56 mi) to its current northern terminus in Grande Prairie; it previously extended west to British Columbia Highway 2 at the border. Several projects including median widening and interchange upgrades were completed in the 2010s that increased the safety of the highway's busier sections.

In the early morning hours of December 15, 2011, a Lethbridge man killed three people on Highway 2 immediately north of Claresholm. The man turned the gun on himself in a murder–suicide.[61]

Work began in 2016 to straighten the alignment of Highway 2 at the south end of Red Deer.[62][63] The project included demolition of an existing bridge and construction of four new bridges for Highway 2. A substandard curve was removed and straightened, and a left entrance to Highway 2 for southbound traffic from Gaetz Avenue was reconstructed to crossover to the west side of the highway before joining the southbound lanes from the right side in a more conventional configuration.[63] The existing bridges on this section of the highway had been constructed in 1962.[38]: 35  The project was completed in 2018.[62]

Future

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Southern Alberta

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In Nanton, the two directions of Highway 2 are one-way streets, approximately 160 m (520 ft) apart. A free-flowing bypass of the town is proposed.
A freeway bypass of Nanton is proposed, where the two directions of Highway 2 are one-way streets, 160 m (520 ft) apart
Proposed Highway 2 bypass of Nanton, Alberta.
Proposed Highway 2 bypass of Claresholm, Alberta.
Proposed bypasses of Nanton (top) and Claresholm (bottom)[64]

Highway 2 from Fort Macleod to south Edmonton is part of the CANAMEX Corridor, a divided highway with a combination of interchanges and several at-grade intersections except for a 50 km (31 mi) fully controlled-access freeway section in Calgary. The only set of traffic lights on this CANAMEX section are in central Claresholm;[65] a bypass is proposed that would carry Highway 2 to the east of town on a new free-flowing alignment.[66] A similar bypass to the east of Nanton is also proposed.[67] A bypass of Fort Macleod has also been planned, tentatively designated as Highway 2X. It would be constructed in conjunction with a Highway 3 bypass of the town, making both routes free-flowing through the area.[68] Plans have also been drafted for significant reconstruction of the interchange of Highway 2 and Highway 23 near High River. The existing cloverleaf interchange was built in 1967 and does not meet the current standards in Alberta's Highway Design Guide.[69]

In Calgary, where Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail) experiences heavy congestion at peak hours, a major planning study is underway to determine the best course of action for upgrades to the freeway.[70] In 2007, a study was completed by Alberta outlining plans for upgrades to the partial cloverleaf interchange of Glenmore Trail and Deerfoot Trail, one of the busiest road junctions in the province.[71] Stage 1 of the proposed improvements would correct a pinch point on Deerfoot Trail by constructing a new three lane bridge to carry the northbound lanes over Glenmore.[72] The southbound lanes would then be realigned on the existing bridges, such that Deerfoot Trail would be three lanes each way through the interchange, up from two.[71]

Central and northern Alberta

[edit]

Planning is underway to convert the Queen Elizabeth II Highway between Calgary and Edmonton to a freeway.[73] Near Red Deer, traffic levels are close to 50,000 vehicles per day, and Alberta Transportation begins consideration of widening to six lanes when levels exceed 30,000 vehicles per day.[74] South of Airdrie, reconstruction of an existing interchange at Highway 566 is proposed,[75] and new interchanges have been planned at Township Roads 264 and 265 to support future development in the area.[76] Widening of the highway from four to six lanes between Airdrie and Crossfield is planned,[77] and between Highway 42 and Highway 597.[78]

Between Edmonton and Leduc, Alberta Transportation has drafted plans to construct a dual freeway system in conjunction with a second ring road approximately 8 km (5 mi) beyond Anthony Henday Drive.[79] The existing interchange at Highway 2A south of Leduc would be closed and reconstructed to modern standards further south. Between Edmonton and 41 Avenue SW, the highway would be realigned several hundred metres to the west to facilitate construction of a large interchange with the outer ring road.[80] The existing bridges at Airport Road, Highway 19, 41 Avenue SW, and Ellerslie Road have all been constructed with sufficient width to allow for construction of two additional sets of lanes.[81] In 2015, a planning study was completed outlining a new interchange at 65 Avenue in Leduc.[82] In northwest Edmonton, a planned extension of Ray Gibbon Drive will bypass St. Albert from Anthony Henday Drive to Highway 2. Upon completion of this road, Ray Gibbon Drive would be designated as Highway 2.[83] On June 1, 2020, work began on the first phase to twin Ray Gibbon Drive from 137 Avenue NW to just north of LeClair Way. An interchange at Cardiff Road is also planned, just south of Morinville.[84]

North of Morinville, Highway 2 is a lightly travelled two lane highway carrying well under 10,000 vehicles per day,[40] but in 2012 Alberta Transportation completed a study to plan for extension of twinning from Morinville to north of Highway 18 near Clyde.[85] In 2013, a study was completed analyzing possible truck bypasses of Athabasca, to the east and west of the current alignment.[86] A 2010 study assessed twinning of Highway 49 from Valleyview to Donnelly, and Highway 2 from Donnelly to south of Nampa.[87]

Major intersections

[edit]
Rural/specialized municipalityLocationkm[88]miExitDestinations[89]Notes
Cardston CountyCarway0.00.0
US 89 south – Browning, Great Falls
Continuation into Montana
Canada–United States border at Piegan–Carway Border Crossing
5.43.4PAR 136 west – Police Outpost Provincial Park
20.712.9 Highway 501 south – Del Bonita, Milk RiverSouth end of Hwy 501 concurrency
Cardston21.313.2Cardston Truck BypassUnsigned Hwy 501 north[11]
23.514.6 Highway 501 west (9th Avenue)North end of Hwy 501 concurrency
25.015.5 Highway 5 west / Cardston Truck Bypass – Waterton ParkSouth end of Hwy 5 concurrency; unsigned Hwy 501 south
Blood I.R. No. 14825.816.0 Highway 5 east – Magrath, LethbridgeNorth end of Hwy 5 concurrency
41.425.7 Highway 505 west – GlenwoodSouth end of Hwy 505 concurrency
44.827.8 Highway 505 east – Spring CouleeNorth end of Hwy 505 concurrency
Stand Off55.034.2 Highway 509 east – Coalhurst
Cardston County
No major junctions
M.D. of Willow Creek No. 2675.246.7 Highway 511 east
Fort Macleod84.452.4 Highway 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – LethbridgeHwy 2 branches west; south end of Hwy 3 concurrency; south end of CANAMEX Corridor
85.753.3 Highway 811 north (6th Avenue)
89.555.689 Highway 3 west (Crowsnest Highway) – Pincher Creek, Crowsnest PassHwy 2 branches north; north end of Hwy 3 concurrency
90.456.2Crosses Oldman River
91.556.9 Highway 785 west – Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Granum109.267.9 Highway 519 east – Nobleford, Picture Butte
Claresholm126.078.3 Highway 520 – Barons
Stavely143.088.9 Highway 527 west – Willow Creek Provincial Park
149.592.9 Highway 529 east – Champion
Nanton165.5102.8 Highway 533 west – Chain Lakes Provincial ParkSouth end of Hwy 533 concurrency
166.9103.7 Highway 533 east (18 Street) – VulcanNorth end of Hwy 533 concurrency
M.D. of Willow Creek No. 26Foothills County line173.5107.8Township Road 170 / 722 AvenueFormer Hwy 2A
Foothills County179.9111.8674 Avenue E – Cayley
183.2113.8 Highway 540 west – Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
High River192.9119.9194 Highway 23 (12 Avenue SE) – High River, VulcanSigned as exits 194A (east) and 194B (west)
194.8121.0(195)High River Business Park (24 Street NE)Southbound exit only
196.2121.9197498 Avenue ETo Highway 543 west
201.4125.1202Mazeppa, Gas Plant, Auction MartSouthbound exit, northbound entrance
Aldersyde208.3129.4209 Highway 7 west – Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley
To Highway 2A – Aldersyde, High River
Highway 547 east – Mossleigh
221.6137.7222 Highway 2A south / Highway 552 east – De Winton, OkotoksSouth end of Hwy 2A concurrency
223.6138.9225 Macleod Trail (Highway 2A north) to Highway 1 (TCH) west – City CentreNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of Hwy 2A concurrency; south end of Deerfoot Trail
225.9140.4227Dunbow Road – Heritage Pointe, De Winton
Bow River228.2141.8Bridge
City of Calgary229.9142.9230212 Avenue SE
231.4143.8232 Cranston Avenue / Seton BoulevardAccess to South Health Campus
231.9–
234.5
144.1–
145.7
234 Stoney Trail (Highway 201) – Medicine Hat, EdmontonSigned as exits 234A (east) and 234B (west); Hwy 201 exit 101; former Highway 22X
234BMcKenzie Lake Boulevard / Cranston BoulevardSouthbound exit, northbound entrance
233.6145.2236McKenzie Towne Boulevard / McKenzie Lake Boulevard
237.2147.4238130 Avenue SE
238.7148.3240Barlow Trail north
240.4149.424124 Street SE / Douglasdale Boulevard
241.6150.1Ivor Strong Bridge across Bow River
241.7–
242.6
150.2–
150.7
243Anderson Road / Bow Bottom Trail
243.7151.4245Southland Drive
244.6152.024611 Street SE – Shopping CentreSouthbound exit and entrance
245.5152.5247Heritage Drive / Glenmore Trail west – Shopping CentreNorthbound exit and entrance
246.7153.3248 Glenmore Trail (Highway 8)Southbound signed as exits 248A (east) and 248B (west); no northbound to westbound exit; former Highway 8 west
249.0154.7Calf Robe Bridge across Bow River
250.3155.5251Peigan Trail east / Barlow Trail south
253.0157.225417 Avenue SE east / Blackfoot Trail southFormer Hwy 1A east
254.6158.2256Memorial DriveCity Centre
256.8159.6258 16 Avenue NE (Highway 1 (TCH)) – Banff, Medicine Hat
258.6160.726032 Avenue NE
260.3161.7261McKnight BoulevardSigned as exits 261A (east) and 261B (west)
262.0162.826364 Avenue NE
263.7163.9265Beddington Trail / 11 Street NENorthbound exit and southbound entrance
265.6165.0266 96 Avenue NE / Airport TrailCalgary International Airport
267.5166.2268 Country Hills BoulevardDelacour, Calgary International Airport
292.2–
271.4
181.6–
168.6
271 Stoney Trail (Highway 201) – Banff, Medicine Hat, LethbridgeHwy 201 exit 60; north end of Deerfoot Trail; south end of Queen Elizabeth II Highway
Rocky View CountyBalzac272.7169.4273CrossIron DriveNorthbound exit and southbound entrance, access to CrossIron Mills
274.4170.5275 Highway 566 – Balzac, Kathyrn
City of Airdrie279.3173.528040 Avenue SW / Sharp Hill Way SENorthbound exit and southbound entrance opened on October 13, 2023[90]
280.9174.5282Yankee Valley Boulevard
282.2175.4(284)East Lake CrescentNorthbound exit only
284.1176.5285 Highway 567 (Veterans Boulevard) – Airdrie, Irricana
Rocky View County293.8182.6295 Highway 2A north / Highway 72 east – Crossfield, Beiseker, Drumheller
303.9188.8305 Highway 2A – Crossfield, Carstairs, Acme
Mountain View County313.6194.9315 Highway 581 – Carstairs
325.0201.9326 Highway 582 – Didsbury
Olds339.5211.0340 Highway 27 – Olds, Sundre, Three HillsSigned as exits 340A (east) and 340B (west)
Red Deer County352.2218.8353 Highway 2A south – OldsSouthbound exit only
Bowden355.5220.9357 Highway 587 – Bowden
Innisfail364.0226.2365 Highway 54 west – Innisfail, Caroline
367.4228.3368 Highway 590 east (50 Street) – Innisfail, Big ValleyTo Highway 2A north
383.1238.0384 Highway 42 – Penhold, Pine Lake
Gasoline Alley389.7242.1391McKenzie Road
390.7242.8392Gasoline Alley East / Willow Street – Petrolia Industrial ParkNorthbound exit only
391.2243.1393Leva Avenue – Gasoline AlleySouthbound exit only
City of Red Deer392.7244.0394 Gaetz Avenue (Highway 2A north) – City CentreNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
393.4244.4395 Taylor Drive (Highway 2A south) / 19 Street (Highway 595 east) – Penhold, DelburneSouthbound signed as exits 395A (north) and 395B (south)
395.6245.839732nd StreetAccess to Red Deer College; becomes C&E Trail west of Hwy 2
398.2247.4Crosses Red Deer River
400.4248.8401 Highway 11 (67 Street) – Stettler, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House
403.8250.9405 Highway 11A – Red Deer, Sylvan LakeNorthbound signed as exit 405A, southbound signed as exit 405B
Red Deer County
No major junctions
Red DeerLacombe county line408.7254.0Crosses Blindman River
Lacombe CountyBlackfalds410.8255.3412 Highway 597 east / Aspelund Road – Blackfalds, Joffre
Lacombe421.3261.8422 Highway 12 – Gull Lake, Bentley, Lacombe, Stettler
430.1267.3431 Highway 2A south / C&E Trail – Lacombe, StettlerSouth end of Hwy 2A concurrency
435.8270.8437 Highway 2A north – Ponoka, WetaskiwinNorth end of Hwy 2A concurrency
LacombePonoka county line438.1272.2439 Highway 604 – Morningside
Ponoka County444.6276.3446Matejka Road
445.8277.0447Gee RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
446.8277.6Crosses Battle River
Ponoka448.9278.9450 Highway 53 – Rimbey, PonokaSigned as exits 450A (east) and 450B (west)
461.2286.6462Menaik Road
Ponoka CountyCounty of Wetaskiwin No. 10 line467.6290.6469 Highway 611 – Maskwacis
County of Wetaskiwin No. 10480.6298.6482 Highway 13 – Wetaskiwin, Camrose, Ma-Me-O Beach, WinfieldSigned as exits 482A (east) and 482B (west)
487.3302.8488Correction Line Road
495.8308.1497 Highway 616 – Millet, Mulhurst
Leduc County507.1315.1508Kavanagh, Glen Park District
City of Leduc514.4319.6516 Highway 2A south – Millet, Wetaskiwin
515.8320.5517 Highway 39 west (50 Avenue) – Leduc City Centre, Calmar, Drayton Valley
516.8321.1519Leduc Business SectorNorthbound exit and entrance
517.7321.765 AvenueInterchange proposed;[91] northbound exit and southbound entrance
518.2322.0519Leduc Business Sector (50 Street)Southbound exit, northbound entrance
519.7322.9521Leduc Business Sector (Sparrow Crescent)Northbound exit only
Leduc CountyNisku521.0323.7522 Airport Road / 10th Avenue – Edmonton International Airport
524.4325.8525 Highway 19 west / Highway 625 east (20th Avenue) – Devon, Nisku, BeaumontTruck bypass to Highway 16 west
City of Edmonton531.2330.153241 Avenue SWNorth end of Queen Elizabeth II Highway; south end of Calgary Trail (southbound) and Gateway Boulevard (northbound)
534.6332.2(535)Ellerslie RoadNo access to/from Anthony Henday Drive
534.7–
536.7
332.2–
333.5
(536) Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) – Cold Lake, Fort McMurray, Jasper, LloydminsterNorth end of CANAMEX Corridor; exit 78 on Hwy 216; northbound left exit
537.1333.7(537)19 Avenue NWNo southbound entrance
537.9334.2(538)23 Avenue NW
539.4335.234 Avenue NW
540.9336.1 Whitemud Drive (Highway 14 east) to Highway 16 (TCH) east – Wainwright
Gateway BoulevardCity Centre
Hwy 2 branches west onto Whitemud Drive
541.7336.6106 Street
542.6337.2111 Street
544.2338.2119 Street / 122 Street
545.1338.7Rainbow Valley Bridge across Whitemud Creek
546.1339.3Terwillegar DriveLeft exit
547.0339.953 AvenueNo access to/from Terwillegar Drive
548.6340.9Fox Drive
548.9341.1Quesnell Bridge across North Saskatchewan River
550.1341.8149 StreetNo eastbound exit
551.3342.6159 StreetConnects to 156 Street
552.5343.3170 StreetWest Edmonton Mall
553.5343.9178 Street – West Edmonton Mall
555.4345.1 Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216 south) / Whitemud Drive westHwy 216 exit 18; Whitemud Drive continues west
Gap in route
569.4353.8 Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16 (TCH/YH)) / St. Albert Trail south – Lloydminster, JasperHwy 16 exit 381; St. Albert Trail continues south
571.7355.2137 AvenueSouth end of Mark Messier Trail
574.4356.9 Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216)Hwy 216 exit 31; north end of Mark Messier Trail
City of St. Albert575.1357.4Gervais Road / Hebert Road
577.1358.6Crosses Sturgeon River
579.5360.1 Villeneuve Road (Highway 633 west) / Erin Ridge Road – Villeneuve
Sturgeon County586.1364.2 Highway 37 – Fort Saskatchewan, OnowayInterchange
Morinville592.7368.3Cardiff RoadInterchange proposed (no construction timeline)
596.1370.4 Highway 642 (100 Avenue) – Morinville, Sandy BeachInterchange
612.7380.7 Highway 651 – Busby, Legal
Westlock County626.1389.0UAR 79 east – Vimy
635.8395.1 Highway 18 west to Highway 44 – Westlock, Barrhead, Slave LakeHwy 2 branches east; south (west) end of Hwy 18 concurrency
Clyde637.3396.0 Highway 18 east – ThorhildHwy 2 turns north; north (east) end of Hwy 18 concurrency
656.2407.7UAR 170 east – Tawatinaw
664.6413.0 Highway 661 – Dapp, Rochester
Athabasca County692.4430.2 Highway 663 west – FawcettSouth end of Hwy 663 concurrency
695.1431.9 Highway 663 east – BoyleNorth end of Hwy 663 concurrency
Athabasca708.9440.5 Highway 55 east (50 Avenue) – Lac La Biche, Cold Lake
To Highway 813 – Calling Lake, Wabasca-Desmarais
To Highway 63 – Fort McMurray
Hwy 2 branches west; east end of Northern Woods and Water Route
722.9449.2 Highway 812 west – Baptiste LakeHwy 2 branches north, then turns west
M.D. of Lesser Slave River No. 124781.1485.4 Highway 44 south – Westlock, EdmontonHwy 2 branches north
784.3487.3 Highway 2A north – Hondo, SmithHwy 2 turns west
787.5489.3Crosses Athabasca River
Slave Lake839.2521.5 Highway 88 north (Bicentennial Highway) – Wabasca-Desmarais, Red Earth Creek, Fort Vermilion, High Level
840.5522.3Main Street S
859.3533.9UAR 124 north – Widewater
862.5535.9UAR 167 north – Canyon Creek
Big Lakes County881.9548.0 Highway 33 south (Grizzly Trail) – Swan Hills
886.9551.1UAR 125 north – Kinuso
899.1558.7UAR 170 north – Faust
921.4572.5UAR 166 north – Joussard
939.6583.8 Highway 750 north – Grouard, Red Earth Creek
944.6586.9UAR 174 south – Enilda
High Prairie956.2594.2 48 Street (Highway 749)
970.9603.3 Highway 2A west – ValleyviewHwy 2 branches north
M.D. of Smoky River No. 130991.9616.3 Highway 679 – Winagami Lake Provincial Park
McLennan1,005.7624.9Centre Street N
Donnelly1,018.6632.9UAR 136 north
1,020.2633.9 Highway 49 – Valleyview, Edmonton, Falher, RycroftHwy 2 branches north
Northern Sunrise CountyNampa1,055.8656.0 Highway 683 west – Marie Reine
1,074.6667.7 Highway 688 north – St. Isidore
Town of Peace River1,082.3672.5 Highway 744 south (100 Street) – Town Centre, GirouxvilleInterchange; Hwy 2 turns west
1,082.7672.898 Street – Town CentreInterchange; eastbound exit, westbound entrance
1,083.1–
1,083.6
673.0–
673.3
Peace River Bridge across Peace River
1,084.3673.8 Highway 684 south (Shaftesbury Trail)Interchange
1,086.2674.9 Highway 743 north (74 Street)
M.D. of Peace No. 1351,092.7679.0 Passes Peace River Airport
1,094.3680.0 Highway 2A south – Grimshaw
1,102.5685.1 Highway 35 north (Mackenzie Highway) – Manning, High Level, Northwest TerritoriesHwy 2 branches south
1,104.1686.1PAR 106 west – Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park
Grimshaw1,107.1687.9 Highway 2A east (55 Avenue) – Peace RiverMile Zero of Mackenzie Highway
1,107.3688.0 Highway 685 west (50 Avenue) – Hines Creek
1,110.5690.0 Highway 684 east – Peace River, Shaftesbury FerryHwy 2 turns west
Berwyn1,119.4695.6UAR 238 north
Brownvale1,129.3701.7 Highway 737 north
M.D. of Fairview No. 136Whitelaw1,143.1710.3 Highway 735 north
Bluesky1,155.1717.7UAR 214 north
Fairview1,164.9723.8 Highway 732 north (113 Street)
Highway 64A west – Hines Creek, Fort St. John
Hwy 2 branches south
1,176.6731.1 Highway 64 north – Hines Creek, Fort St. John
Dunvegan1,190.2–
1,190.8
739.6–
739.9
Dunvegan Bridge across Peace River
M.D. of Spirit River No. 133Rycroft1,210.7752.3 Highway 49 (NWWR) – Donnelly, Spirit River, Dawson CreekWest end of Northern Woods and Water Route
Saddle Hills County1,227.3762.6 Highway 677 eastNorth end of Hwy 677 concurrency
1,228.9763.6 Highway 677 west – WokingSouth end of Hwy 677 concurrency
County of Grande Prairie No. 11,256.2780.6 Highway 59 west / Highway 674 east – La Glace, Teepee Creek
Sexsmith1,258.6782.1100 AvenueSexsmith north access
1,259.4782.695 AvenueSexsmith south access
1,263.1784.9 Highway 672 west – Hythe
Clairmont1,272.9790.9 Highway 43 – Valleyview, Edmonton, Beaverlodge, Dawson CreekInterchange; former northern terminus; section part of Hwy 43 from 1998-2019
City of Grande Prairie1,275.3792.4Grande Prairie city limitsNorthern terminus;[39] becomes 100 Street
1,276.1792.9132 AvenueTo Highway 670 east
1,277.7793.9116 Avenue / 100 Street – City CentreFormer Hwy 2 branches west onto 116 Avenue
1,279.2794.9108 Street / 106 StreetFormer Hwy 2 turns south, becomes 108 Street
1,280.7795.8 108 Street (Highway 40 south) / 100 Avenue – City Centre, Grande Cache, HintonFormer Hwy 2 branches west onto 100 Avenue
1,291.5802.5 Highway 43 – Edmonton, Dawson Creek, AlaskaInterchange proposed; future Highway 40X south (unbuilt); continues as Hwy 43 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
() - Exit not officially numbered

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Average between northbound length of 1,272 km (790 mi)[1] and southbound length of 1,274 km (792 mi)[2]
  2. ^ Officially, the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (QEII) refers only to the section between the northern Calgary city limit at Stoney Trail (Highway 201) and the southern Edmonton city limit at 41 Avenue SW.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Northbound length of Highway 2 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Southbound length of Highway 2 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  3. ^ "Primary Highway renumbering to take place in the Peace Region" (Press release). Government of Alberta. February 24, 1998. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Kozicka, Patricia (November 28, 2014). "Officers 'overwhelmed' by QEII crashes; travel on Alberta highways still not recommended". Global News. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016. Eaten said two main problems he sees on the roads are people going too fast and following too close. He also believes winter tires are crucial in this kind of weather.
  5. ^ "Government of Alberta—CANAMEX Trade corridor". Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c "Highway 2 in southern Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Highway 2 at the United States border" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Alberta Official Road Map (Map) (2010 ed.). Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation.
  9. ^ a b c d "Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  10. ^ "Intersection Assessment: Highway 23/519" (PDF). AMEC Environment & Infrastructure. Lethbridge. February 2013. p. 6. Retrieved November 5, 2016. This route is now a popular shortcut for motorists wishing to bypass the town of Fort MacLeod...
  11. ^ a b "Provincial Highways 500 - 986 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Deerfoot Trail in south Calgary" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  13. ^ "Calgary - Community Association Boundaries". Calgary Public Library - Digital Library. Calgary - Potential Heritage Conservation Sites. 1977. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  14. ^ "Bypass signage". Google Street View. May 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Deerfoot Trail in north Calgary" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  16. ^ "QEII Highway Length" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  17. ^ For a partial list of businesses in Gasoline Alley, see "Gasoline Alley East". August 22, 2016. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  18. ^ "Highway 2 splitting to Gaetz Avenue in Red Deer, Alberta". Google Street View. June 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "Highway 2 across the Red Deer River". Google Street View. June 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  20. ^ "Highway 2 across the Battle River". Google Street View. August 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Highway 2 in central Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  22. ^ "Highway 2 near Edmonton International Airport". Google Street View. September 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Highway 2 in Edmonton" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  24. ^ "Highway 2 at Anthony Henday Drive". Google Street View. September 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  25. ^ Mertz, Emily (August 4, 2015). "Whitemud Drive speed suggestion project aims to improve traffic flow". Global News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  26. ^ "Highway 2/18 near Clyde and Westlock, Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  27. ^ "Highway 2 near Colinton, Alberta". Google Street View. October 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  28. ^ "Highway 2 in Athabasca, Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Microsoft Streets and Tips (Map) (2004 ed.). Microsoft Corporation Redmond Washington.
  30. ^ "Northern Woods and Water Route, Canada". PlanetWare Inc. 1995–2009. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009.
  31. ^ "Athabasca River from Alberta Highway 2 west of Athabasca". Google Street View. September 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  32. ^ "Highway 2 in High Prairie, Alberta". Google Street View. October 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  33. ^ "Highway 2 near Donnelly, Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  34. ^ "Highway 2 near Lac Magloire, Alberta". Google Street View. July 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "Highway 2 descending into Peace River, Alberta". Google Street View. July 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  36. ^ a b c d "Highway 2 in northern Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  37. ^ "Dunvegan Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  38. ^ a b c d "Transportation Infrastructure Management System - Existing Structures in the Provincial Highway Corridor" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. September 28, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  39. ^ a b "2019 Provincial Highways 1 – 216 Series Progress Chart". Alberta Transportation. March 2019.
  40. ^ a b c d CornerStone Solutions Inc. (February 17, 2017). "Alberta Highways 1 to 986 - Traffic Volume History 2007 - 2016" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. pp. 5–16. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  41. ^ "ALBERTA HIGHWAYS 1 TO 986 / TRAFFIC VOLUME, VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION, TRAVEL and ESAL STATISTICS REPORT / 2019" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 10, 2020. pp. 36–37. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  42. ^ Gerson, Jen (March 21, 2013). "Huge multi-vehicle pile-up injures 100 people near Edmonton". National Post.
  43. ^ "Deerfoot remains Calgary's most dangerous road". 660 News. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016. Recent crash statistics reinforce the fact, that Deerfoot Trail is the most likely road in the city, where people will be involved in a crash.
  44. ^ "Aircraft Patrol Zones" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. February 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2016.
  45. ^ "RCMP back in the air to nab speeders on Alberta highways". CBC News. July 15, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  46. ^ Weismiller, Bryan (May 9, 2014). "Look out speeders: Alberta highway cops expanding aerial patrol zones". Metro News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  47. ^ Platt, Michael (August 25, 2013). "Alberta Mounties, sheriffs targeting highway horrors from the sky". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016. "Observing from the air really gives you a chance to see the big picture, and really pick out vehicles travelling faster for a long period of time, as well as other dangerous manoeuvres," said [Sheriff Jason] Graw... aboard the Eurocopter AS350...
  48. ^ Parsons, Paige (August 25, 2016). "Leduc's mayor proposes using photo radar to reduce accidents on section of Queen Elizabeth II Highway". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  49. ^ Dias, Thomas (August 25, 2016). "Leduc looking at setting up photo radar on Highway 2". 630 News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  50. ^ a b c "Leduc mayor wants photo radar on QE2". CBC News. August 26, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  51. ^ a b "Collision Facts" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  52. ^ Placenames of Alberta. "The naming along the Calgary - Edmonton Trail". Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  53. ^ Ward, Tom (1975). Cowtown : an album of early Calgary. Calgary: City of Calgary Electric System, McClelland and Stewart West. p. 222. ISBN 0-7712-1012-4. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  54. ^ a b "Motor roads in Western Canada and United States connections leading to Calgary & Canadian Rockies (21 MB)". Alberta Development Board. 1929. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2016 – via University of Calgary.
  55. ^ Department of Public Works (1939). "Highway Map of Province of Alberta Canada" (PDF). Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  56. ^ a b "City Bypass Surprise: Road Going West". Red Deer Advocate. September 16, 1960. pp. 1, 11. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "$1 Million Contracts Awarded For Highway Work In District". November 22, 1962. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "Hwy 2A improvements target bridge, overpass". July 28, 1988. p. 1B. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Heavy roadwork plan set for '74". Calgary Herald. February 28, 1974. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Construction of an interchange at DeWinton turn-off from Highway 2 and widening of that highway south of Calgary.
  60. ^ "Highway 2 receives 'Royal' treatment". Alberta Transportation. May 23, 2005. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016. Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary is now known as the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.
  61. ^ "Claresholm Highway Murders: Anniversary Of Roadside Shooting That Claimed 4 Lives". Huffington Post. February 14, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  62. ^ a b "New Highway 2/Gaetz Ave. Interchange officially opens". rdnewsNOW.com. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  63. ^ a b "New Red Deer interchange part of $7B in highway projects Notley says will bring jobs". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  64. ^ For the Claresholm bypass, see "Town of Claresholm - Municipal Development Plan" (PDF). UMA Engineering Ltd. Lethbridge: Town of Claresholm. March 2007. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  65. ^ "Lights go out from Claresholm to Edmonton". Alberta Transportation. October 7, 2005. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  66. ^ Armfelt, Cory; Waiguru, Maina. "Claresholm - Building a Sustainable Community" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2016. A long-term plan to relocate Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway) so that it no longer runs directly through the town is central to Claresholm's planning. Within the next five to 10 years, a highway bypass is expected to be located about 800 metres from the downtown area.
  67. ^ "M.D. approves concept of four bypass interchanges". Nanton News. February 15, 2005. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016. The Municipal District of Willow Creek has accepted in principle the proposed locations of four interchanges when Highway 2 becomes a freeway...
    • For land acquisition concerns, see "Candidates talk about Highway 2 realignment". Nanton News. February 20, 2008. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016. ...several open houses in all have occurred in the communities that would be affected by the Highway 2 realignment... The land for the highway realignment has been officially designated...
    • For a possible construction timeline, see Patterson, Jessica (March 17, 2009). "No news of highway plans frustrate town". Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016. [Mayor] Blake believes it may be as many as 10 years [2019] before construction begins... The provincial government conducted a study of the proposed bypass in 2006, which recommended constructing an interchange with access to Nanton at Highway 533.
  68. ^ "HIGHWAYS 2 and 3 Fort Macleod Bypass Functional Planning Study" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. McElhanney. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  69. ^ For the interchange reconfiguration plan, see "Highway 23 Network Review and Highway 2 Interchange Reconfiguration - Final Report" (PDF). March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  70. ^ Labby, Bryan (July 13, 2015). "Deerfoot Trail traffic fix delayed indefinitely". Archived from the original on February 12, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  71. ^ a b "Deerfoot Trail / Glenmore Trail Interchange". Alberta Transportation. 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  72. ^ "Stage 1 Design" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  73. ^ "Highway 2 Corridor Improvement Study" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  74. ^ Pike, Helen; Tumilty, Ryan (October 1, 2015). "Province looks at expanding Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton". Metro News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016. Highways typically get an expansion to between six or eight lanes when volumes reach between 30,000 and 50,000 cars per day, the [Alberta Transportation] document states.
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