Deerfoot widening??? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

shane_c · 09-21-2006, 10:11 AM

Does anyone know if there are any plans to fix Deerfoot Trail in several spots where it goes from 3 lanes to 2 lanes (Deerfoot North at Anderson, Deerfoot North just past Glenmore (I believe) and I think there are others as well. It creates such a bottleneck and if it was just 3 lanes at least traffic might keep moving. They are certainly going to have to do something since city council approved a new community just south of McKenzie Towne which is going to be one of the most dense new communities in Canada and will house about 21,000 people. What a nightmare that will be.

troutman · 09-21-2006, 10:12 AM

Maybe people should be allowed to commute by motor boat up the Bow River?

Ironhorse · 09-21-2006, 10:14 AM

The problem with Deerfoot @ Glenmore is that the bridge over Glenmore needs to be made wider; that is why there is a huge bottleneck going down into two lanes there. TBH, Deerfoot between Memorial & Anderson is such a design fiasco, I'd wish they would just redo the whole thing (wishful thinking).

ken0042 · 09-21-2006, 10:17 AM

I sent an email to the city in November; it got forwarded to the province as they oversee Deerfoot now. This is the email I got back regarding widening of Deerfoot at Bow Bottom. (My suggestion was a flyover for people exiting Deerfoot onto Southland.)

Quote:

Ken,

Thank you for taking the time express your concerns about Deerfoot Trail at Bow Bottom / Anderson.

Deerfoot Trail is now the jurisdiction of the Provincial government and as such Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation (AIT) is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the roadway. As a result The City has forward your comments to myself for a response.

AIT is aware and understands the situation that you have described. As part of the recent construction of the Douglasdale Interchange improvements were made to Deerfoot Trail in the area of Bow Bottom / Anderson (BBA). These improvements included the doubling of the merge length for southbound Southland to southbound Deerfoot and conversion of the northbound exit to Southland.

The conversion included reducing BBA to two lanes as they merge with Deerfoot and the addition of a second exit lane to Southland. With this reconfiguration theoretically only northbound Deerfoot motorist need to change lanes at this location. Motorist from BBA wanting to go to Southland should be in the right lane and need not change lanes, motorist from BBA wanting to go north on Deerfoot should be in the left lane (prior to merging with Deerfoot) and need not change lanes. AIT is monitoring the ongoing turbulence in the traffic flow in the northbound location.

The flyover, or basket weaving bridges, you described are in our long range functional plans. Associated with the basket weave bridges is a new bridge over the Bow River and a reconfiguration of the BBA Interchange. These improvements will undertaken depending on Provincial priorities and funding.

If you have other questions or concerns please contact myself at your convenience. Additional information can be found on our web page at http://www.trans.gov.ab.ca/Content/d...on/cphpmap.htm.

My guess; they are waiting for Lafarge to pack up shop.

Mr. Ski · 09-21-2006, 10:32 AM

That's a pretty descent response. I'm actually impressed they'd write back with that much detail.

Madman · 09-21-2006, 11:19 AM

What they need to do at BBA is to add a solid line so people merging onto Deerfoot from Anderson can't merge all the way over to the left lane. Force them to stay in the right lane and all will be good. As the above email states, that is the desired outcome.

It drives me insane that people think the MUST be in the left lane!

the_only_turek_fan · 09-21-2006, 11:24 AM

I hope they do. It was really bad this morning. I took Deerfoot all the way from Country Hills Blvd. to Memorial Dr. and it took a lot longer than it should.

The cars merging in really slow down traffic. Deerfoot IMO should be 4 lanes wide, with a 5th lane used for merging and turns. That is wishfull thinking I know, but it is really what I think needs to be done.

Since we are talking about making roads wider, Crowchild, John Laurie/McKnight, and Country Hills Blvd could use the same. The way this city is growing the traffic problems are just going to get worse.

shane_c · 09-21-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman

What they need to do at BBA is to add a solid line so people merging onto Deerfoot from Anderson can't merge all the way over to the left lane. Force them to stay in the right lane and all will be good. As the above email states, that is the desired outcome.

It drives me insane that people think the MUST be in the left lane!

They'll just drive over the solid line. It means nothing to the morons on the road. What peeves me off is these places where it goes from 3 lanes down to 2 and people keep rushing up the lane that is ending, knowing full well that it's going to end, so that they can get a few cars further up the line. This only slows down traffic and adds to the bottleneck. I usually refuse to let them in. Why can't people just get in the proper lane beforehand and then traffic doesn't have to slow down even further to let them in.

Bill Bumface · 09-21-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane_c

I usually refuse to let them in.

Did I ever **** off a taxi driver doing that yesterday... one of the people that thought it was fine to stay a lane over on memorial and get in last second to get on northbound Deerfoot after everyone has been waiting in line.

Where crowchild hits two lanes, and several sets of lights, is going to be an expensive fix. The McMahon/Kensington stretch needs either a raised road or a tunnel to work. Or else they are going to be knocking a lot of buildings down.

V · 09-21-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I hope they do. It was really bad this morning. I took Deerfoot all the way from Country Hills Blvd. to Memorial Dr. and it took a lot longer than it should.

Since I know where you're going to, have you ever tried exiting at Mcknight and driving down Barlow? I used to drive from Martindale to your work, and I always took Barlow. I never thought it was that bad, although Mcknight from Deerfoot to Barlow might get nasty.

V · 09-21-2006, 12:39 PM

I just parked on the road. I'd just go out for a smoke every day at noon with another guy and we'd switch spots.

troutman · 09-21-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane_c

They'll just drive over the solid line. It means nothing to the morons on the road. What peeves me off is these places where it goes from 3 lanes down to 2 and people keep rushing up the lane that is ending, knowing full well that it's going to end, so that they can get a few cars further up the line. This only slows down traffic and adds to the bottleneck. I usually refuse to let them in. Why can't people just get in the proper lane beforehand and then traffic doesn't have to slow down even further to let them in.

Actually, traffic would flow smoother if every driver in the lane that was ending, merged at the end of the lane. I've seen this in Europe where traffic is much worse.

fanforever1986 · 09-21-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman

What they need to do at BBA is to add a solid line so people merging onto Deerfoot from Anderson can't merge all the way over to the left lane. Force them to stay in the right lane and all will be good. As the above email states, that is the desired outcome.

It drives me insane that people think the MUST be in the left lane!

its because a lot of people have trouble driving in the middle and right hand lanes...im not kidding. i remember my ama driving instructor saying that since the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, the best place to learn how to stay in the lanes is the left lane. To that I asked him "Is there no traffic law saying that the left lane is actually for faster moving traffic?" ....he hadn't heard of any such law.

War a 15 year old knowing more about the rules of the road than the 40 something's teaching them.

V · 09-21-2006, 01:02 PM

So there is actually a law saying that the cars in the left lane must go faster? I've never heard of one either.

War me sounding like a clone.

Ironhorse · 09-21-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Actually, traffic would flow smoother if every driver in the lane that was ending, merged at the end of the lane. I've seen this in Europe where traffic is much worse.

However, the skill level in Europe is much higher than it is here.

IMO, half the driving population of Calgary would not survive the streets of Europe.

the_only_turek_fan · 09-21-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

Since I know where you're going to, have you ever tried exiting at Mcknight and driving down Barlow? I used to drive from Martindale to your work, and I always took Barlow. I never thought it was that bad, although Mcknight from Deerfoot to Barlow might get nasty.

Usually I take John Laurie/McKnight and then Deerfoot. There are too many lights on Barlow. Today I had to fill up gas at Superstore so I took Country Hills.

shane_c · 09-21-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Actually, traffic would flow smoother if every driver in the lane that was ending, merged at the end of the lane. I've seen this in Europe where traffic is much worse.

Something I noticed in Ottawa when I was there for a few days was that when people are coming up to a spot where cars are merging on they get over a lane prior to the merge lane so that cars can merge. I really appreciated that and it made things easier. Unlike here where I'm trying to get on the Deerfoot and people already on the highway are switching over to the far right lane.

Madman · 09-21-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

I just parked on the road. I'd just go out for a smoke every day at noon with another guy and we'd switch spots.

Sounds like you guys work at Stantec.

Reaper · 09-21-2006, 01:50 PM

Sheesh! It makes me wonder how many Stantec'ers there are on here.

(I'm not actually a Stantec'er, I just play one while I'm at work.)

Bill Bumface · 09-21-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Tell me about it in more detail. I ahve actually debated driving that stretch all day long looping and doing that to drivers. The trick is to leave a gap infront of you to tempt but as you see that they are going to make the attempt then you speed up. If it didnlt make me a loony I would do it all day long.

Exactly, I saw the cabs signal after he whipped up past 80 cars that had been waiting their turn and knew it was coming. I was already close to the guy in front of me so I stayed there hoping he'd get the message. When he tried to cut in ahead of the guy I was following he ran into the same problem. The light turns red and we all stop, only a couple cars back from the intersection. I see him take off and try find some victim further up, no luck so he's slowing down and signaling. I had left a tease gap, so he decided he'd try me again. The gap wasn't quite big enough for a car, so I just held my distance. The guy starts moving over, about 1/4 of his vehicle now in my lane thinking I'll give in. I keep going as he can't move over any more without hitting my car. His honking and flailing told me I'd won our little game of chicken, although it was all for naught because the female genital behind me let him in. At least I made him realize he's a dick?

Now you can live vicariously through me fotze.