Gateway Boulevard and Calgary Trail – Edmonton’s real transportation issue
Tuesday February 07, 2006
Richard Skermer

Throughout this site, you’ll find article after thread after column on transportation ideas, initiatives, and plans for Edmonton.  Some will cite the LRT, which is a very honourable and arguably a necessary plan to enact.   Others will cite Whitemud Drive and specifically the Quensel Bridge; another well deserved project.  Even more will look towards the completion of the Anthony Henday ring road, or the Yellowhead, or others within the city, and all will be great projects.  However, the one project that needs attention as much as, or even moreso, is the blight that is Gateway Boulevard and Calgary trail.  Why?  Because unlike the many others I’ve mentioned, Gateway Boulevard and Calgary Trail lack something the others have:  a concrete plan that is currently approved to turn this ugly stretch of road into a fast, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing entrance to our city.

Travelling in from our airport and from the southern areas of Alberta, the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway is a fast vehicular transport corridor right up until you hit 23 avenue in Edmonton.  Then, it all stops.  Welcome to Gateway Boulevard, the forgotten son of Edmonton’s transportation system.  This is our main entrance into the city and access to our downtown core, and yet there is no convenient or fast access to 97th avenue – the border of our downtown and government districts.  

Why is Gateway so important?  It is, after all, the major artery in and out of our city for all our travellers that are airport bound.  A freer flowing Gateway/Calgary Trail could shave up to 20 minutes off the drive from 97th avenue to our airport, further removing the perception of our airport’s distance to the city core.  A dedicated clean-up initiative would go a long way to giving this route a more polished and professional look; thereby giving our visiting business professionals a more accurate perception of our city.

The negative perception the road creates is greatly exemplified in Paul D. Grant’s book “Baptism by Ice”.  In it, he and his American counterpart describe how absolutely unimpressed to horrified they were of the drive into Edmonton, how the drive along Gateway was ugly and uninspiring, and then are absolutely blown away as they hit the river valley.  I invite you to read the chapter on their trip to Edmonton as it completely and accurately sums up the impression nearly every visitor or client I bring to Edmonton has of our premier drive into the city.  

To be fair, there have been several plans to get fast access to the downtown from the south.  91st street via the Mill Creek Ravine was one such plan, and remnants exist today of this plan via the large right-of-way that is 91st until 51st avenue, the junctions  surrounding the Muttart Conservatory, and other downtown access roads.  Another ambitious plan had a new bridge being built at the base of the Queen Elizabeth Hill, and the approach is still visible today.  However, these plans, like many others, fell victim to protest and politics.   Our southern access has since been maligned to exist as a traffic light ridden, run down shop lined road with some small gems in between.  

Recently, Edmonton has come up with several plans for many other arteries and ancillary roads within the city, but has never come up with a long term plan for the entire stretch that is Gateway and Calgary Trail.  There once were 4 different road alignments for an expressway along Gateway and Calgary Trail, but those plans are not concrete.  Additionally, the recent election did highlight the need for a larger, more direct access from Saskatchewan drive via a new bridge into the downtown core.  To be fair, 23rd avenue is now well on the way for a long overdue overpass, the poorly planned intersection that is 19th avenue will be gone, and the Henday interchange is giving this drive more of a big city feel and flow.  However, the rest of the roadway seems mired in indecision and inaction.

Some would suggest we extend a high speed train or the LRT to the airport; thereby, along with park and rides, solving a lot of our southern transportation woes.  While a great idea in concept, one must wonder whether our airport will have the passenger volumes to warrant LRT access and expense, along with the desire by many travellers to take the LRT over dedicated point-to-point travel methods such as taxi’s and personal vehicles.  Light Rail is notoriously expensive and one could argue inflated in cost, so one would have to address this in such a grand scheme.  Add to this that the majority of our population continues to enjoy and vehemently protect the ability to have the freedom of their own transportation, and the LRT may be ahead of its time.

There are other good ideas in existence; however, what is missing is a definitive and approved action plan.  Fear exists that this roadway will never improve unless it receives the attention it deserves.  Edmonton needs a decision on the future of this roadway now.  We need to build our businesses, our thoughts, and our downtown plan around this single decision.  One could readily argue that the final piece to the downtown revitalization puzzle is simply access from the south.

So, here is an open invite to the Connect2Edmonton forum to discuss this issue.  What are your ideas?  Is this an issue worth pursuing?  Let us know your thoughts!

Column ID#: 1

**Opinions expressed by guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Connect2Edmonton members, partners or sponsors.**

discuss