Does QEII need to be tripled?

[16hypen3sp]

What do you guys think?

I drive QEII very often. Majority of my time on it is spent between Highway 597 and Township Road 374 (McKenzie Road) along with the odd trip to Calgary and Edmonton a few times a month.

Over the past few weeks, tripling QEII has came up in conversation a couple of times. I'm wondering if this really needs to done.

Sure, there are still a few spots that need to be tripled, but the whole thing?...

I dug into the AB Trans plans on it and here is what they have planned...

Firstly, their study...

We will invest $6 million over the next two years to update the six-lane Highway 2 (QE II) Corridor planning study between Edmonton and Calgary, given the current increased traffic volume forecast.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/5141.htm

Secondly, the southern portion of QEII... looks like it will be tripled from Airdie to Carstairs...

Widening the QEII Highway from a four lane divided freeway to a six lane divided freeway north of Junction 2A/72 (Crossfield) to south of Highway 581 (Carstairs)

Widening the QEII Highway from a four lane divided freeway to a six lane divided freeway, including upgrading the existing Highway 72 interchange to accommodate the widening. Junction 567(Airdrie) to north of Junction 2A/72 (Crossfield)

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...s/calgary.aspx

Thirdly, the central portion of QEII... looks like it will be tripled (maybe even quad) from Penhold to Blackfalds...

Alberta Transportation has identified the need to plan for widening of Highway 2 to a six lane divided freeway standard, with provision for an ultimate eight lane widening upgrade between Highway 42 to Highway 597.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...s/central.aspx

As of now, there seems to be nothing planned north beyond Blackfalds.

It should also be noted that none of the above plans are in the current 3 year plan.

I definitely agree with AB Trans over the central portion plans, and I'm not just saying that because I frequent that area a lot. It should have been tripled years ago.

So what do you guys think? Have you ever found yourself in a situation on QEII where three lanes would have been a benefit? Can the current design of QEII have better legislation that would benefit traffic flow and possibly reduce the need of tripling?

I'm very curious to see what Beyonders think of this.

[dubhead]

Originally posted by 16hypen3sp


So what do you guys think? Have you ever found yourself in a situation on QEII where three lanes would have been a benefit? Can the current design of QEII have better legislation that would benefit traffic flow and possibly reduce the need of tripling?

I'm very curious to see what Beyonders think of this.

I split my time between Calgary and Edmonton and make the drive very often sometimes every 5 days.

Have I found my self in a situation were 3 lanes would be of benefit? Yes every time I drive it.

The only legislation that would help is left lane bandit laws and out right banning semi's and holiday trailers from the left lane

[Nitro5]

Would it be great? Or course!

Is it needed? Not really.

I've never been in total gridlock outside except when getting to Edmonton or Calgary during rush hour. Sure you have to deal with traffic and 'slow' people in the fast lane, but you're still moving at the limit the whole way.

[Maxt]

Add a lane and add this:

[FixedGear]

Yes, this kind of infrastructure should be planned and built two decades before it's needed. Look at the Calgary ring road for a good example of how this wasn't done (massive fail).

[dj_rice]

Anthony Henday needs an extra lane added. F-ing brutal everyday I take it to work and it just clogs up around Terwilliger area.

[jwslam]

Need to be tripled? Yes
Where? The entire length of Calgary and Edmonton. i.e. Glenmore

I prefer 2 lanes actually... there's WAY too many left lane hogs in this province. It's nice to not have to worry about the guy in the right lane cutting out to pass the same time as I'm trying to go around this left lane hog bitch.

[ZenOps]

Solar powered drone brain plane would be awesomer.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...world-records/

But I guess if you had to keep people employed by digging ditches and then filling them in again - its a decent enough idea.

[HiTempguy1]

I drive qe2 all the time. While it would be nice, it is super rare to have to drop below 100km/h for more than a couple seconds. Irritating? Sure! But not worth spending billions on.

I'd rather see that infrastructure money goes toward ring road expansions (henday as mentioned, deerfoot for Calgary).

Left lane hog rules and semi's should only be able to use the right lane would make a MASSIVE difference.

Edit-
The thread title doesn't match the poll title lol. Yes, the QE2 needs to be tripled in the next 15 years if the population of Alberta continues growing.

[FraserB]

As stated, the biggest benefit would be banning any vehicle with a trailer attached from the left lane and making semis drive in the right lane regardless of whether or not they are hauling a trailer.

[killramos]

Originally posted by FraserB
As stated, the biggest benefit would be banning any vehicle with a trailer attached from the left lane and making semis drive in the right lane regardless of whether or not they are hauling a trailer.

A vehicle weight limit for the left lane would work great for this. Make it just under the weight of a 1 ton to

[vengie]

Between Airdrie and Calgary needs to be 4 lanes each way. I drive it daily, and you have people going anywhere from 140+ to just over 100km/h.

It'll be interesting to see how many cars are in the ditch between the two cities this year, the quality of drivers has deteriorated significantly.

[jwslam]

Originally posted by vengie
It'll be interesting to see how many cars are in the ditch between the two cities this year, the quality of drivers has deteriorated significantly.

[blownz]

It should have been done 10 years ago and when they finally do it in 20 it will already need to be at 4 lanes each direction...

I drive almost weekly between Edmonton and Calgary and it would be a huge safety improvement to have it at 3 lanes each direction the entire way. And when it is up to 3 lanes, semi's and anything towing needs to be banned from the far left lane.

The problem with banning trailers and semis from the left now as some people have mentioned, is what happens when someone is driving 105 in the right lane? We just deal with a 100km line of vehicles stuck behind? It just isn't practical. But with the third lane it totally is.

[Canmorite]

Originally posted by Maxt
Add a lane and add this:

Absolutely. If you're going to rebuild the highway, at least adjust it for higher speed limits. Everyone does 120+ already.

[riander5]

Save this money and spend it on a high speed train

[AndyL]

South of Calgary to #3 - needs at least a full shoulder lane to be added...

But yes 2 to Edmonton should be 3 lanes, and learn from BC - straight road, if the coq be 120 QE2 can be much higher...

[Mitsu3000gt]

- 3 lanes, all the way

- Left lane minimum speed limit that is actually enforced with the same frequency as speeding tickets

- Semi's, RV's, vehicles with huge trailers, etc. not allowed in the left lane (except maybe to pass)

- Speed limit 120 or higher (common, safe, flow of traffic is already 120-140)

IMHO that would make a big difference. That highway can be an absolute nightmare to drive. Every time I drive that road, there is always 2 vehicles blocking both lanes below the speed limit, slowing down hundreds of people.

[theken]

They should be tripling the areas of Deerfoot that are only 2 lanes first before they worry about going to Edmonton

[TomcoPDR]

I think congestion is mostly from left lane drivers, not the volume of vehicles