Common traffic jams in Calgary?

[Cube Inmate]

I'm considering moving in the near future, and I want to give due consideration to the headaches of traffic jams. From your own experience, what traffic jams do you commonly encounter in Calgary? Experiences from anywhere in the city would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

What roads?
What times of day?
How frequently do they occur? Every day, or only in case of a stall (e.g.)

For me, the two most consistent jams are these:
1) 90 Ave / 14 St / Glenmore Westbound...
Frequently slow in morning rush hour between 07:30 and 09:00. 3-light delays at some of the lights. Worse during school season...better in the summer. Infrequent 30-minute back-ups due to stalls/collisions...can back up from Glenmore/Crowchild all the way to Glenmore Landing and beyond. Has been slowly improving with progress on the two construction projects. Optimistic that it will continue to improve.

2) Crowchild Northbound approaching Bow River...evening rush hour between 17:00 and 18:30...congestion at the spaghetti interchange at Bow/Crow always backs things up to around 17th Ave SW. Collisions or stalls anywhere up to 5th Avenue N can back traffic up to 33rd Ave S.

[ken0042]

Deerfoot @ Anderson- Bow Bottom Trail. The road narrows to 2 lanes and then they add a traffic weave. Northbound is bad in the morning, southbound is bad in the afternoon.

However living in McKenzie Towne I know of a few different shortcuts to avoid that area.

Southbound MacLeod @ Southland in the afternoon. With putting overpasses at Midnapore, Canyom Meadows, and Anderson they pretty much moved the last bottleneck north. Not that they didn't need those interchanges; it just is unfortunate.

[CaramonLS]

Glenmore/37 ST SW.

Just awful in any direction during rush hour, especially Westbound (PM) and turning from 37 ST South to Glenmore East.

[getbak]

I live by Chinook Centre and work by Deerfoot Mall, so I hit Glenmore and Deerfoot every day.


For me, the absolute worst is Deerfoot southbound around the Calf Robe Bridge.

The first problem is the lack of a merge lane from Peigan onto Deerfoot, which forces people in the right lane to slam on their brakes as people cut in, then people in the right lane cut over into the left lanes, which cause them to slow down too. Eventually, it cascades backwards to the point that the brake lights come on right around 17th. God forbid this causes an accident (which happens quite often) because things stop instead of just slowing.

Once you're past Peigan, you hit the bridge, which is icy half the year, and the sun is in your eyes during rush hour most nights too. Then, inexplicably, Deerfoot becomes a two-lane road at Glenmore, which just squeezes things even more.


Deerfoot northbound seems to be better designed and is usually only problematic if there's an accident (usually on the Calf Robe). The worst part is the area around 17th and Memorial by the Max Bell as you have people coming off of 17th trying to merge into Deerfoot at the same time and location as people trying to merge off of Deerfoot to go onto Memorial. I've seen many close calls here, but I usually just stay in the left lane, so I can avoid the crazy cross-overs.

[Prototype]

Deerfoot Northbound usually starting at Memorial and not clearing out until about 64th. Evening rush hour. Usually when I'm on it by about 6P it's good to go.

BUT!!! They are starting mondo construction work on the 64th Ave bridge starting Monday, and they aren't expected to be done until mid-September. Something to think about for both north and southbound.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Glenmore/37 ST SW.

Just awful in any direction during rush hour, especially Westbound (PM) and turning from 37 ST South to Glenmore East.

+1

I end up driving through the residential area behind those two apartment buildings across from Westhills to go the back way to MRC just to avoid 37th and Glenmore in the AM

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

Deerfoot Northbound usually starting at Memorial and not clearing out until about 64th. Evening rush hour. Usually when I'm on it by about 6P it's good to go.

That's the exact opposite of morning rush hour. Northbound becomes much better after Memorial (and I love the fourth lane between 32nd and McKnight -- if only people coming off of McKnight knew how to properly use that insanely long acceleration lane).

Obviously, since Memorial is the main access to downtown from the Deerfoot, it's where the largest percentage of traffic is leaving the Deerfoot in the morning, and joining the Deerfoot at night.

[Rathji]

Northbound Deerfoot from Barlow to Anderson is near total deadlock from 7-7:30 am is near deadlock every morning, it gets a bit better by Southland and is pretty much clear by Glenmore. Before 6:30am and after 8am this route is totally clear and you hardly need to slow down.

Southbound Crowchild from 53rd Ave (or whatever it is where Central/Mount Royal are) till Glenmore and eastbound Glenmore from Crowchild till after 14th are near deadlocked from 4pm till 5pm-ish, but reasonably fine before and after that.

[Hemi-Cuda]

for some reason, heading westbound on 16th ave, soon as you get near 19th st ne there is always a large congestion of traffic regardless of time of day (just past Barlow). you can get through in 2 or 3 cycles of the light if you're lucky, but i've never understood why that one intersection is so bad. you'd think the backup would be on the Deerfoot interchange

[KTown]

Heading eastbound to Chestermere on 17Ave SE towards 84ST

I spend some days here up to a 10 light stop before I get through. It's backed up from 84ST right up until 68ST.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Deerfoot @ Anderson- Bow Bottom Trail. The road narrows to 2 lanes and then they add a traffic weave. Northbound is bad in the morning, southbound is bad in the afternoon.

However living in McKenzie Towne I know of a few different shortcuts to avoid that area.

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.

I'm in Mckenzie and I guess you could go up 52nd, Barlow (or Sheppard) or go 22X to Macleod. There was 24th street but isn't it still cut off to traffic?

Do you have any others?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Anywhere on Crowchild north of Memorial Drive is just bad these days.

Shagganappi and John Laurie is awful as well.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

There was 24th street but isn't it still cut off to traffic?

The very quietly re-opened it. One of the industrial places being built in Quarry Park is now open, so they needed access. The actual road is still dug up, but there is a temporary road up.

My primary shortcut involves Sheppard Road, but then coming home in the afternoon I swing onto Barlow , stay to the right, and then pull a U turn after turning right on 106 ave. Use the lights to cross Barlow, and take 106th all the way to 52nd street. If 52th looks backed up already, then turn right on about 48th street and take it to 114 ave.

[JiriHrdina]

Anyone that has to work in the SE industrial areas, or Ramsay have had to deal with the unreal frustration of trains. How CP is permitted to have trains go through and a snail's pace during rush hour is beyond me. Just a travesty.

[DEvans]

Bow Trail westbound and eastbound is usually not bad but with the construction this summer, between Sarcee tr. and 37st as well as the Train bridge maintenance, it could be a bit of a mess at times. Once all that is done though it should be one of the best routes in and out of downtown IMO. Unless C-train expansion construction messes it up...

[West Karma]

nm

[krazycanuck]

Originally Posted by West Karma

Reading all these post, I realize you have all mentioned different parts of the city!! Both in the downtown core and suburbs!!

I guess this is part of the reason I moved to BC!! The infrastructure in Calgary sucks!!!

I don't know where you live, but having driven in Vancouver...I would take Calgary traffic any day of the week over that mess.

Now living in Edmonton I think the traffic here is even worse. Calgary has more cars on the road, but the road system seems to be able to handle it better. I live on 109th street by grant macewan and to get to the high level bridge during rush hour takes 20-30 minutes.

[StoneCole]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

BUT!!! They are starting mondo construction work on the 64th Ave bridge starting Monday, and they aren't expected to be done until mid-September. Something to think about for both north and southbound.

...do you have any idea where I can find info. on this. I've been searching, but unable to find anything. The only thing I've seen is the signs posted along Deerfoot.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Anyone that has to work in the SE industrial areas, or Ramsay have had to deal with the unreal frustration of trains. How CP is permitted to have trains go through and a snail's pace during rush hour is beyond me. Just a travesty.

I've been saying that forever!!!!!!!! Glad I'm not alone

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Anywhere on Crowchild north of Memorial Drive is just bad these days.

Shagganappi and John Laurie is awful as well.

Crowchild past 24th is free flowing all the way until Stoney, where you will have to wait for a maximum of 2 lights. Pretty soon, that overpass will open, so zero lights.

A good route is to zip up 14th street to 20th ave (I think it's 20th) and work your way up to 24th and hop on Crowchild.