About the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion
Yellowhead Trail first opened to the public in 1970. More than 50 years later, the expressway is used by over 80,000 commuters every day and is projected to increase to 155,000 commuters in 20 years. It is a major goods and services transportation link in the Trans-Canada highway and it’s time for the Yellowhead Trail to become a freeway — with 3 lanes of free-flowing traffic in each direction by the end of 2027. The proposed plan will improve traffic flow along Yellowhead Trail as traffic volumes continue to grow, help move goods and services more efficiently through and within this part of the City, and will significantly improve safety at several high-collision locations.
The City completed a strategic plan for the Yellowhead Trail conversion program that includes the closure of a number of intersections, addition of service roads in select areas, and the addition of a number of interchanges. This expansion is part of Edmonton’s Transportation Master Plan and the Transportation Bylaw was amended by City Council to designate Yellowhead Trail as a freeway.
