Deerfoot Trail
Encyclopedia
Deerfoot Trail is a freeway section of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) in Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
. It was formerly known as Blackfoot Trail Freeway, but was renamed to honour the first Native American
to win the marathon
.
Deerfoot Trail stretches 50 kilometres (31.1 mi), from Calgary's northern city limit to its merger with Highway 2A (Macleod Trail
) just north of Okotoks, and features 21 interchanges. It is Alberta's busiest highway with traffic volumes ranging between 27,000 and 158,000 vehicles per day depending on the location. Its busiest stretch is between Memorial Drive
and 16 Avenue NE (Trans-Canada Highway
). The majority of Deerfoot Trail is six lanes in total width, but there are a number of four-, eight- and ten-lane sections. The posted speed limit is 100 km/h (62.1 mph).
Deerfoot Trail was constructed in five stages:
In the fall of 2005, the last set of traffic signals was removed from Douglasdale Boulevard in southeast Calgary and replaced with a parclo interchange
, rendering the road a freeway for its entire journey through the City of Calgary.
The province took over responsibility from the city for highway maintenance and upgrades. The road is currently maintained by Carmacks Enterprises between the northern city limit and the Macleod Trail merger.
There have been 10,000 collisions on Deerfoot Trail in the past five years, including 24 fatalities, according to the City of Calgary.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was formerly known as Blackfoot Trail Freeway, but was renamed to honour the first Native American
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
to win the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
.
Deerfoot Trail stretches 50 kilometres (31.1 mi), from Calgary's northern city limit to its merger with Highway 2A (Macleod Trail
Macleod Trail (Calgary)
Macleod Trail is a major road in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a six to eight lane principal arterial road extending from downtown Calgary to the south of the city, where it merges into Highway 2. South of Anderson Road, Macleod Trail is an expressway and is slated to be upgraded to a freeway in...
) just north of Okotoks, and features 21 interchanges. It is Alberta's busiest highway with traffic volumes ranging between 27,000 and 158,000 vehicles per day depending on the location. Its busiest stretch is between Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Calgary)
Memorial Drive is a major road in Calgary, Alberta. Besides having an important role in city infrastructure, the tree lined sides of Memorial Drive serve as a living testament to the many soldiers who died during World War I and give it a parkway look on the western section...
and 16 Avenue NE (Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
). The majority of Deerfoot Trail is six lanes in total width, but there are a number of four-, eight- and ten-lane sections. The posted speed limit is 100 km/h (62.1 mph).
Deerfoot Trail was constructed in five stages:
- 1971 – northern City boundary to 16 Avenue NE;
- 1975 – 16 Avenue NE to 17 Avenue SE;
- 1980 – 17 Avenue SE to Glenmore Trail;
- 1982 – Glenmore Trail to Highway 22X (Marquis of Lorne Trail); and
- 2003 – Highway 22X to Highway 2 north of Okotoks.
In the fall of 2005, the last set of traffic signals was removed from Douglasdale Boulevard in southeast Calgary and replaced with a parclo interchange
Parclo interchange
A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange. The parclo interchange was developed by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation as a replacement for the cloverleaf on 400-Series Highways, removing the dangerous weaving patterns and allowing for more...
, rendering the road a freeway for its entire journey through the City of Calgary.
The province took over responsibility from the city for highway maintenance and upgrades. The road is currently maintained by Carmacks Enterprises between the northern city limit and the Macleod Trail merger.
There have been 10,000 collisions on Deerfoot Trail in the past five years, including 24 fatalities, according to the City of Calgary.
See also
- Transportation in CalgaryTransportation in CalgaryThe city of Calgary, Alberta, has a large transportation network that encompasses a variety of road, rail, air, public transit, and pedestrian infrastructure. Calgary is also a major Canadian transportation centre and a central cargo hub for freight in and out of north-western North America...