Transcanada to Invermere

[spetch]

So I am heading out to Invermere with the wife and kids next week and I noticed construction on Highway 1. Would I be better off taking 1A to skip the construction or would the delays = the speed/distance on 1A?

This will be the longest driving trip with our two kids (2 years and 4 months old).

[heep223]

When are you going?

[burn_this_city]

Stick with the TCH, 1A is further and slower. I've used the #1 numerous times this summer and the construction wasn't even noticeable.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by heep223

When are you going?

Next Thursday probably would reach #1 around 4-4:30pm either via Stoney or Cochrane overpass.

[heep223]

You're fine, stick with the transcanada.

[BlackArcher101]

Isn't the construction going eastbound?

[tvp2003]

We did this trip a few weeks ago. Driving west was no problem (except for the Uhaul that had gone up in Flames just inside the gates to Banff National Park). On the way back (east), things started to back up around the exit to Chief Chiniki's. I assume it was due to construction. We pulled off and took the 133x (though Morley) up to 1A. Smooth sailing until we approached Cochrane and the intersection of 22 (I don't know if there was an accident or something but it probably wasn't meant to handle all of the extra traffic, i.e. from people taking the same detour as me). Single lane was backed up for probably an extra 20 minutes (seemed longer with screaming kids in the back), so you might be SOL either way...

[DoubleF]

I did one too a few weeks back on a weekend to Canmore.

I was delayed about 35 minutes west bound due to volume of traffic because people were rubber necking.

East bound was only like 10 minutes. But I also cheated. I took the off ramp and then took the ramp back down and bypassed something like half a KM of cars.

I think I could have shaved about 10-15 mins doing the same thing west bound, but that's all hindsight. It was annoying to see an empty road parallel to the clogged highway while we were sitting in place funneling 3 lanes into 1 though.

Even at around 30 mins delay, is it worth taking the alternate route? I feel like you'd spend more time doing that route than saving.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Smooth sailing until we approached Cochrane and the intersection of 22 (I don't know if there was an accident or something but it probably wasn't meant to handle all of the extra traffic, i.e. from people taking the same detour as me).

THIS GMMFG. No, it is not designed to handle that amount of traffic. The 22/1A intersection is abysmal at the best of times (and apparently the majority of Calgary just discovered that Ghost Lake exists), and for whatever reason, Volker Stevin or whoever is doing the construction, in their infinite wisdom, posted signs to take the 1A, which is longer than taking the 1, when everybody tries to funnel through there.

To answer the OP, take the 1. The brunt of the construction is done. The 1A won't save you time at all.

[Mass_nerder]

I was just in Banff this weekend. Can confirm the construction is east-bound. You shouldn't be held up.

[Drummer]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

THIS GMMFG. No, it is not designed to handle that amount of traffic. The 22/1A intersection is abysmal at the best of times (and apparently the majority of Calgary just discovered that Ghost Lake exists), and for whatever reason, Volker Stevin or whoever is doing the construction, in their infinite wisdom, posted signs to take the 1A, which is longer than taking the 1, when everybody tries to funnel through there.

To answer the OP, take the 1. The brunt of the construction is done. The 1A won't save you time at all.

I saw a CBC news article that interviewed the mayor of Cochrane and he was saying that it was a horrible idea to suggest taking 1A over 1. He had no idea why people were suggesting it would be faster. That same article also talked about the 1A and 22 intersection and how there was a plan to improve it but the AB Gov canceled the plans.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by spetch

So I am heading out to Invermere with the wife and kids next week and I noticed construction on Highway 1. Would I be better off taking 1A to skip the construction or would the delays = the speed/distance on 1A?

This will be the longest driving trip with our two kids (2 years and 4 months old).

I drove it August Long Weekend. I don't recall any construction to be honest.

[Finger Cookin]

I traveled to Fairmont last Thursday using the 1 to the 93/95. Very minor construction westbound on the 93. On the return trip, eastbound paving near the Kananaskis exit narrowed the #1 to a single lane, and it brought traffic to a complete stop. Getting through the 2-3 km stretch still being worked on probably added 20-25 minutes to the travel time.

So a week later, they might even be done the eastbound paving and painting. Either way, I would just stay on the main route instead of the 1A.

As for the 22 interchanges/intersections, they're terrible on both the 1 and the 1A. It's extremely disappointing to hear that improvements to the 22/1A intersection were scrapped. 22 needs widening in general, and especially new and wider bridges, on its entire run from the number 1 north to at least the 567.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Drummer

He had no idea why people were suggesting it would be faster. That same article also talked about the 1A and 22 intersection and how there was a plan to improve it but the AB Gov canceled the plans.

There was a freaking LED sign on the highway re-routing traffic that way. Baffles my mind.

Yeah, the government scrapped that before last election. I have little doubt it won't make it's way back on the books anytime soon. Which is a shame because that intersection needed to be done 10 years ago. It's a mess now and traffic has gone up 10-fold.

IMO Cochrane should just apply for city status and take care of it themselves, instead of waiting on the province.

[Superfraggle]

There was a significant backlog of cars going eastbound yesterday. No idea how long they actually had to wait. Westbound was fine. I quite like the drive on the 1A, but I don't know whether it would actually be faster or not.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

There was a significant backlog of cars going eastbound yesterday.

There was a semi that toppled over Tuesday night. Hazmat/emergency crews were out. Could have been remnants of that, since it would have had to been towed out as well.

[taffeyb]

I've got stuck a couple of times on the 1A heading back to Calgary -- I measured the 2nd time. 7 km line up of cars and 35 minutes to clear the traffic lights at 22. Really no alternatives aside from going down highway 40 to Longview. This would be much longer. Went westbound last week, but was on the road real early so there was no construction yet. What I don't get is why doesn't the Government ask for a bid that only does construction at night? Like 9 pm to 6 am? Would be much better than the current (apparent) 9 to 4 hrs, Monday to Friday.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by taffeyb

What I don't get is why doesn't the Government ask for a bid that only does construction at night?

Safety would be a large issue. Another would be finding employees. And increased costs.

[Drummer]

Another CBC article on that. Someone from the AB Gov said they don't do night paving because of quality control issues. Nice lie.

[taffeyb]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Safety would be a large issue. Another would be finding employees. And increased costs.

I know and don't disagree with you. All I'm saying is that the bid can stipulate the hours...finding the employees would be the winning bidder's issue. Costs will most likely be higher, but think of all the unproductive hours for the people in the cars. Also, I would rather pave in the middle of night with temperatures in the high teens rather than the high 20's lower 30's.

Quality wasn't an issue in California when they had that "Carmegedon" paving project. Worked 24 hours a day until it was done to minimize the impact.