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Roads, Highways & Infrastructure

What is an RRFB?
These: (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon)
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Traffic circle with RRFBs on the JLB end seems great
This is one location where a ped overpass actually makes a great deal of sense -- all of the surrounding residential lands are already 3-5m above the road level.

Would be interested to know the back story of how they ended up with the design they did and why they didn't plan for a more normal connection in the first place.
Looked at the air photos; to me it seems like JLB was really intended as a north/south route.

1957: Before any construction in the area, Northmount Dr is the key artery. McKnight is coming across, but the area near the corner is still a stream bed. The future JLB is to the west of the developed land here.
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1972: McKnight has been built, as has North Haven. JLB seems like it's intended to continue north, curve through the open space, and connect up north around were 64th Ave is today.

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Zooming in, the intersection is basically, except for a dual right turn NB->EB, the same as it is today.
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By 1975, 14th St is being extended to connect north instead; this is more or less what is there today.
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What happened, I suspect based on a few minutes of internet research, is the establishment of Nose Hill Park. The land of Nose Hill Park was originally planned to be used for residential purposes; per Wikipedia, in the early 1970s a naturalist-NIMBY alliance lobbied for the creation of the park. In 1972 the City decided to freeze development in the area, and ultimately created the park; the developer sued the city and actually appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. If there isn't going to be any development west of 14th St in the area, you no longer need multiple parallel arteries, and 14th St was built curving around the border of the park (and also providing a more direct connection to the downtown).
 
Anyone know when the city is going to finish Country Hills BLVD north of the airport? It goes from 6 lanes to 2 lanes to 6 lanes with very poor signage and road markings.
Isn’t that the responsibility of the land owners (YYC?) on either side of the road? Don’t they pay for that upgrade?
 
Yes, Country Hills Boulevard is an arterial meaning it is a boundary road. Not sure how the south half will work, given it is the runway and no development will occur, but the north half is the responsibility of the developer of those lands. The industrial business park that was planned for those lands has stalled out unfortunately.

The City does have an account to take on these widening projects ahead of development, and then charge back the adjacent lands when development does occur. Not sure the status of that fund, and where this spot would rank.
 
There would likely need to be consultation with the airport as they'll have to temporarily move the extended centreline lights for the runway since they are literally right next the road, likely easier said than done.

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The city has filled in the remaining 7 bus traps.

Former bus trap locations:

1. 4 Street NE at Beaver Dam Road NE: Bus trap filled January 2024

2. North Haven Drive NW at Noseman Road NW: Bus trap filled January 2024

3. 24 Avenue NE at 21 Street NE: Bus trap filled January 2024

4. Pinetown Place NE at 56 Street NE: Bus trap filled January 2024

5. 58 Street SW at Strathcona Drive SW: Bus trap filled February 2024

6. Rockyvale Drive NW at Rockliff Landing NW: Bus trap filled February 2024

7. Centre Street N at Beddington Trail N: Bus trap filled February 2024
 
I imagine it's a combination of the airport runway lights and the power poles on the north side that have prevented upodating the road to the same standard as the rest of CHB. Still, what a total shit show trying to drive through there currently!

For the bus traps, are those roads open to traffic now, or are they closed still, just without having to pull cars out of the trap a couple times a week?
 
I imagine it's a combination of the airport runway lights and the power poles on the north side that have prevented upodating the road to the same standard as the rest of CHB. Still, what a total shit show trying to drive through there currently!

For the bus traps, are those roads open to traffic now, or are they closed still, just without having to pull cars out of the trap a couple times a week?
The Bus traps are still only open to buses. Do not enter signs both directions. So I guess it’s just the honour system now 🤔
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really starting to get tired of the unfinished left lane on Stoney Tr/Hwy 8 under 69th Street. Never ceases to amaze me how they can consider a road fully opened and then leave it 6+ months before they finish a detail like this, if ever.
 

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