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Two more roundabouts to be constructed

Sylvan Lake’s roundabout has proven a big success and Alberta Transportation is looking at adding two more in Central Alberta.
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Road construction crews are busy with projects in Central Alberta including this one at Hwy 11A and Hwy 2.

Sylvan Lake’s roundabout has proven a big success and Alberta Transportation is looking at adding two more in Central Alberta.

“We really see big benefit in the operation of this intersection. There’s virtually no delays,” said Brian Reid, Alberta Transportation’s infrastructure manager for the central region.

It was not uncommon for traffic to back up for kilometres on a busy long weekend previously.

The province has set its sights on undertaking a similar project on Hwy 2A and Secondary Hwy 597 at Blackfalds, Reid told Lacombe County council on Thursday in an update on area road projects.

Work on the new roundabout, which may be slightly larger than the one at Hwys 20 and 11A just east of Sylvan Lake, is expected to begin within three years.

The province wants to see the roundabout completed ahead of a future project to twin Hwy 2A between Red Deer and Blackfalds.

County Reeve Terry Engen, who lives in the west side of Lacombe County, said there was some resistance from drivers towards the new intersection at Sylvan Lake, but it has turned out to be a huge improvement.

Alberta Transportation also wants to build a roundabout at Hwys 13 and 21 near Camrose. That project is not currently in the three-year plan.

Meanwhile, a couple of other major Hwy 2 projects already underway are expected to be completed this year. The interchanges at Hwy 11A and Hwy 12 are being changed from a cloverleaf pattern to a more modern diamond-style.

The Hwys 2 and 12 interchange has drawn frequent complaints from drivers because of the short acceleration lanes. When the existing interchanges were built in the 1960s and traffic volumes were at 6,500 vehicles per day they worked fine. Traffic volumes are now typically 25,000 vehicles a day and closer to 50,000 near Red Deer on a Friday night.

Another interchange on the three-year plan is at Hwys 2 and 27 east of Olds. That will be upgraded and the province is also planning to create a large rest area on the northeast corner that will be accessible from both northbound and southbound traffic.

Also falling within the three-year plan is a major upgrade of access routes to Hwy 2 at Red Deer. The plan is to build a flyover so traffic joining the highway from Gaetz Avenue southbound does not have to merge from the left.

A highway access from the northbound lanes to Taylor Drive is also anticipated. It is hoped that will take some of the pressure off the intersections around Gaetz Avenue. The road design is meant to separate local traffic from highway travellers.

The large project is expected to be built in stages over a number of years.

Before the planning is complete, Alberta Transportation plans further consultation with area businesses, especially those in the Gasoline Alley area.

Reid said the costs of the projects will depend on the tendering process and he was reluctant to give estimates before that takes place.

pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com