Bow Trail widening and intersection improvements

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The City is widening Bow Trail to two lanes in each direction, between 85 Street S.W. and Old Banff Coach Road (OBCR), with additional improvements at intersections and pathways. These upgrades improve how people travel in the area and between communities now and into the future; whether you drive, take transit, cycle or walk.

Project update

Removing trees

Beginning the week of April 2, we are removing a number of trees within the construction zone to make room for the new road and pathways. We will be planting approximately 766 new trees along Bow Trail, where space allows, to replace the ones we remove.

While the road, intersection and pathway designs are final, we are revisiting the landscaping plans to see where we can improve the trees locations and other plantings.

Road work begins in spring 2018. Most of this work is scheduled to be completed by fall 2018, with some minor road work and the landscaping anticipated for 2019.

About the project

A better Bow Trail:

Add eastbound lane and westbound lane, between OBCR and 85th Street S.W., for now and future vehicle volumes
Extend pathways on north and south side of Bow Trail to OBCR and Strathcona Blvd. for better walking and cycling connections between communities and existing pathways.
Reduce speed limit to 60km/hr on Bow Trail, providing a safer space to travel in the area.
Install pedestrian signal crossing at 77 Street S.W. (approx. 800m, east of 85th Street S.W.), to improve community connections.
At Bow Trail/85th Street S.W. intersection:

Add dual left-turn lanes all 4 directions
Add two through lanes in all directions

At Bow Trail/OBCR/Strathcona Blvd. intersection:

Add a third left-turn lane, from southbound OBCR to eastbound Bow Trail
Lengthen the two left turn lanes from westbound Bow Trail to southbound Strathcona Boulevard.

Design

Information session roll plans

On March 22, we hosted an information session, where we showcased the following designs. Based on the comments we heard, we've revisited the landscaping plans to see where we can further improve the various trees and other plantings.

Road and pathway designs

Proposed landscaping plan (Under review)

Information session display boards

If you weren't able to attend the Information Session, the information display boards from the session are available to review.

Project timeline

Design: Spring 2017 – Spring 2018

Construction: Spring 2018 – fall 2019

Project completion: Fall 2019

Calgary's southwest ring road

Is this project part of Calgary's ring road? While the upgrades to Bow Trail are required now, the new Bow Trail design will allow a seamless transition between the future West Calgary Ring Road and Bow Trail.