Glenmore Trail becomes free flow next week! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ken0042 · 06-22-2007, 09:01 AM

After two years of commuter strife, one more weekend of traffic pain is all that's left before a Glenmore Tr. intersection becomes a free-flowing route.

The major component of the $110.5-million project to improve Glenmore Tr. between Macleod Tr. and Elbow Dr. -- the most expensive interchange project in Calgary's history -- is set to open to long-suffering drivers on Monday.

This is what the intersections will look like come Monday:
http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/...e5_stage_3.pdf

I can't believe it's been two years already since construction began.

Tron_fdc · 06-22-2007, 09:05 AM

Thank. God. I was getting ready to apply for my gun license....

How much do you want to bet that I can still wind my way through back roads and still beat the "free flow" traffic?

JD · 06-22-2007, 09:23 AM

And in the same week, they'll be closing down 6th Avenue.

Trade one traffic headache for another.

shane_c · 06-22-2007, 09:38 AM

The first few days will probably be gridlock as commuters get confused about having to drive on a new road.

Cube Inmate · 06-22-2007, 09:44 AM

"Free flow" -- until Buffy the airheaded Land Rover driver decides to crash into the nearest Smart car while she's applying lipstick, talking on her cell phone, and drinking coffee all at the same time. I do believe that'll very quickly mess things up!

I, for one, CAN believe that this mess has been going on for 2 years....it's wasted hours and hours of my life that I'll never get back. Well, unless I sue the city for millions of dollars...apparently that allows you to recover lost time.

Tron_fdc · 06-22-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

"Free flow" -- until Buffy the airheaded Land Rover driver decides to crash into the nearest Smart car while she's applying lipstick, talking on her cell phone, and drinking coffee all at the same time. I do believe that'll very quickly mess things up!

I, for one, CAN believe that this mess has been going on for 2 years....it's wasted hours and hours of my life that I'll never get back. Well, unless I sue the city for millions of dollars...apparently that allows you to recover lost time.

Take West bound Glenmore to Macleod South, 2nd right after the car dealership, head west to Elbow, South on Elbow to Henry Wisewood (2 blocks) hang a right, west to 14st (you come out at the rockyview hospital) hop back on 14th, merge back on to Glenmore West. That alone cut 10-15 minutes off my stop start gridlock on WB Glenmore.

I can post it now that they're opening everything up....

GoinAllTheWay · 06-22-2007, 10:16 AM

It will be interesting to see just what kind of differnce it will make. Rather dissapointed that Elbow Dr traffic still gets lights and that one intersection just north of Glenmore on Elbow, man a red light there at the wrong time really backs up traffic into the intersection. And whats up with the lenses they are using on those light? You can't see what color they are until you are almost under them.

Resolute 14 · 06-22-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane_c

The first few days will probably be gridlock as commuters get confused about having to drive on a new road.

Wont be too bad, given 5th ave is west is going to be closed, as will be the Westbound exits from MacLeod onto Glenmore until August/September. If you are going straight through, it'll be great, if not, enjoy Blackfoot, 58th Ave, 71st Ave and 14th St.

That, and there is still another year to go on the causeway upgrades.

photon · 06-22-2007, 10:21 AM

Yeah, so traffic westbound free flows right up to the causeway and then backs up from there.

ken0042 · 06-22-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Rather dissapointed that Elbow Dr traffic still gets lights and that one intersection just north of Glenmore on Elbow, man a red light there at the wrong time really backs up traffic into the intersection.

The thing of it is- if you went with free flowing freeway, you end up creating traffic jams as people try to weave in where others are weaving out. Remember how Glenmore EB and Blackfoot SB used to be? SB traffic on Blackfoot would back up to 58th ave, and EB Glenmore would back up to MacLeod during rush hour. Now it flows free with the addition of a set of lights on Blackfoot. Those lights are well timed and short- so it doesn't really create congestion. And the well timed is part of the key- there are other lights to deal with.

Same with Elbow. As you say- there are other lights on Elbow to deal with. These lights will give Elbow through traffic priority. 3 years ago the issue with the lights there was they had to be long enough to let Glenmore traffic flow.

To create a cloverleaf with no traffic flow problems; you need a lot more real estate, and that is something you cannot do in the inner city.

Torture · 06-22-2007, 10:25 AM

didn't think it was ever going to happen!

ZDogg · 06-22-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

That, and there is still another year to go on the causeway upgrades.

Then you can queue up the congestion at 37th Street....I know that intersection is already bad but it will get worse. The only thing that could alleviate that mess is an interchange there and the SW leg of the ring road. Still years away. Work in progress I guess...

llama64 · 06-22-2007, 10:47 AM

This isn't entirely on subject but I thought it was interesting...

Apparently 14th Street was originally planned as a major North/South artery but a greedy mayor didn't feel like having his Bel'Aire home uprooted. Thus, the transfer over the resevoir and the detour onto Crowchild trail.

It was in the sixties, and I don't know the mayor's name. Amazing how one stupid descision can screw up a city for decades!

Tron_fdc · 06-22-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDogg

Then you can queue up the congestion at 37th Street....I know that intersection is already bad but it will get worse. The only thing that could alleviate that mess is an interchange there and the SW leg of the ring road. Still years away. Work in progress I guess...

Which is why I moved from Cougar Ridge. It took me 45minutes to get home before all the construction/population increase; I'm sure it would be well over an hour now. 37th was a nightmare all the time....I even saw it backed up on a Sunday afternoon for no apparent reason. It's earmarked for an interchange though, which would be nice.

They still need to get that road from 37th to Anderson sorted out though. It would take soooo much pressure off Glenmore if they could agree on something with the Tsu tina. Not only that, but once Hiway 1 is widened on 16 ave it should take a lot of truck traffic off Glenmore in both directions. Hopefully.

ken0042 · 06-22-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llama64

Apparently 14th Street was originally planned as a major North/South artery but a greedy mayor didn't feel like having his Bel'Aire home uprooted. Thus, the transfer over the resevoir and the detour onto Crowchild trail.

I have also heard that 14th was supposed to go right through the city as well, but people grew to like the green space between the legs of 14th and made a big stink when they tried to turn it into a roadway.

Which is why now there are signs in new communities warning that certain parks exist now to save room for future LRT and roadways.

Addick · 06-22-2007, 11:48 AM

It's only a matter of time before it becomes backed up and super congested again...

"Widening roads to ease traffic congestion is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt."

- Glen Hiemstra

Bill Bumface · 06-22-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addick

It's only a matter of time before it becomes backed up and super congested again...

"Widening roads to ease traffic congestion is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt."

- Glen Hiemstra

That's only half true. A road like Glenmore where people really had no choice anyways doesn't create increased demand as much by widening it like roads such as Crowchild do.

Five-hole · 06-23-2007, 02:39 PM

Has anyone been on Glenmore today and knows what the traffic is like? I gotta go from Heritage park to Westhills at 6:00ish (pretty much the Glenmore death zone) and if it's going to be a nightmare I'm gonna find an alternate route.

Thanks in advance.

Resolute 14 · 06-23-2007, 02:51 PM

Heritage to Westhills shouldnt be any worse than normal. All of this weekends work is at MacLeod and Elbow.

CaramonLS · 06-23-2007, 05:26 PM

Trying to get to the university from around the Chinook area was absolute death.

Glenmore was reduced to 1 lane, so I decided to try 17th ave, made to the uni 40 minutes later. Then on my way home, I decide to try to go via Bow/9th ave instead -> MacLeod. Well, 9th ave at 2nd street is closed and they reroute all the traffic on to 5th ave instead, except 5th ave is half closed for construction too. 2 lanes completely blocked off with them tearing up the road.

50 minutes to get home.

I guess I have to go from the Deerfoot -> Memorial/16th instead.