Program History
Funding
On July 8, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced funding for expanding Terwillegar Drive. The investment provides construction funding towards the south portion of Stage 1, from Anthony Henday Drive to Rabbit Hill Road, the shared-use path on the east side of Terwillegar Drive, the pedestrian/cyclist bridge and Stage 3.
With this announced funding and previously approved funding in the 2019-2022 Capital Budget, all 3 stages of the Terwillegar Drive upgrades can advance to construction, improving vehicle capacity, reducing congestion and delays and improving the accommodation of transit users, pedestrians and cyclists.
Stages
Following the funding announcement, the City is continuing to refine the staging plan for the expansion of Terwillegar Drive as planning and design progresses. The City is continuing to advance planning and design of Stages 1 and 2 and is currently conducting a technical study to further refine the concept plans for Stage 2.
A study has also been initiated to develop a concept plan for the pedestrian/cyclist bridge over Whitemud Drive. After analyzing public input from previous engagement, upcoming public engagement will provide opportunities to refine the bridge concept. Preparations are underway to begin the planning and design of Stage 3.
Timelines
Site preparations for the construction of Stage 1 begin in September 2020 between 40 Avenue and Rabbit Hill Road. The preconstruction activities will take place until late fall 2020. Construction on Stage 1, between Rabbit Hill Road and Whitemud Drive, will begin spring 2021.
Preliminary design of Stage 2 is expected to start this fall. More information on public opportunities to learn about the plans for Stage 2 will be shared in the coming months.
The next phase of engagement on the pedestrian/cyclist bridge is expected to commence this fall.
On Thursday March 7, 2019, Terwillegar Drive was named as one of the City projects awarded provincial funding through the Alberta Community Transit (ACT) fund. This contribution of $24.6 million provides funding for dedicated bus lanes on Terwillegar Drive and follows City Council’s decision in December 2018 to fund Stage 1 of the planned upgrades to Terwillegar Drive as a part of the 2019-2022 Capital Budget.
The City is now reviewing the concept plan for Stage 1, along Terwillegar Drive between Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive. Construction is currently anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020 or 2021. The recommended plan will improve vehicle capacity, reduce congestion and delays, and improve the accommodation for transit users, pedestrians and cyclists. Stage 1 upgrades include:
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Widening Terwillegar Drive to 4 lanes in each direction between Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive: 3 lanes for motor vehicles and 1 for transit.
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Intersection improvements
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A shared-use path on the east side of Terwillegar Drive
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Continued landscape naturalization on the corridor
When complete, the recommended concept plan will be shared with area residents, community leagues, stakeholders and the public for feedback and questions. This will also be an opportunity to see how input collected from the last phase of engagement, in late 2018, was used to refine the concept plan. More information on public opportunities to view the recommended plan will be shared in late summer 2019.
Following a motion from the Urban Planning Committee, the City has developed a draft expressway plan for Terwillegar Drive. An expressway is a high-capacity, relatively high-speed roadway which includes widely spaced signalized intersections. The draft plan includes improvements to address community priorities and previous direction from City Council, including:
- Widening the road to 4 lanes in each direction
- Widening of existing signalized intersections with consideration for Smart Adaptive Smart Signal Controls
- Potential for dedicated transit lanes and bus stops
- Shared-use path on the east side of Terwillegar Drive with connections across major intersections
- Continue naturalization on the corridor with the potential for additional localized tree planting
At the October 2, 2018 Urban Planning Committee meeting, Committee unanimously accepted a motion for the City to advance public engagement only on the expressway option for Terwillegar Drive and to prepare a profile for consideration in the 2019-2022 Capital Budget deliberations.
Throughout the summer, the City continued to develop options for Terwillegar Drive to address public priorities including:
- Alleviating congestion quickly on Terwillegar Drive
- Accommodating all current direct accesses to neighbourhoods
- Minimizing traffic diversions through neighbourhoods
- Improving accommodation of transit users, pedestrians and cyclists
After analyzing the public and technical needs, an expressway was identified as one of the potential options, in addition to the freeway plan, that could address the public priorities and provide a solution for Terwillegar Drive. An expressway is a high-capacity roadway with intersections that would allow access to communities and amenities. All modes of transportation including motorist, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists can also be accommodated with an expressway option.
The City presented an information report to Urban Planning Committee on October 2 regarding the freeway and the new expressway option, and a revised public engagement plan for the Terwillegar Drive concept planning study. City staff recommended additional engagement be conducted with area residents, communities, organizations, businesses and commuters prior to recommending a long-term plan.
Following the February 27, 2018 Notice of Motion from City Council, the City is continuing to explore options for Terwillegar Drive which will improve congestion, maintain neighbourhood access and include opportunities for transit, pedestrians and cyclists.
The next phase of public engagement will begin this Fall, when the City will reconnect with and update community organizations, area residents, businesses, and the public. This will be an opportunity to provide feedback and perspectives on the next stage of planning and how it addresses priorities and concerns which were shared during the last phase of engagement in January 2018, including:
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Alleviating congestion
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Maintaining existing direct access to Terwillegar Drive from adjacent neighbourhoods
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Minimizing traffic congestion and diversions through area neighbourhoods
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Improving connections for pedestrians, cyclists and transit
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Minimizing noise and improving safety
In fall 2017, the City of Edmonton initiated this study to update the approved concept plan for the Terwillegar Drive corridor, between Whitemud Drive and Anthony Henday Drive, considering current roadway standards, travel demand and population projections, and to advance preliminary engineering of the 40 Avenue interchange.