2016 Season - E20 - Edmonton to Red Deer

We're heading south from Edmonton down the Queen Elizabeth II highway on our way to Calgary. In this part we'll stop at the half-way point in Red Deer, Alberta.

[@kittykatross3896]

Dear Trans Canada Phil: Thank you so much for the ride! I grew up east of Ponoka on a farm and this video brought back so many memories when my parents used to drive me to Red Deer and Calgary. The music is so enjoyable, I couldn't keep still in my chair! Lol You made me a very happy girl today and this vid is going in my Favorites! God bless you Phil

[@BrandonClaridge]

The QEII is probably the closest thing to a U.S.-style Interstate highway in Western Canada, outside of the at-grade intersections remaining between Penhold and Carstairs. Ontario and Québec have the 400-series highways and autoroutes respectively, but there is nothing like that in Western Canada, except for the QEII. It would be nice to see a similar freeway-level improvement to the TCH-1 across the Prairies, from the BC/AB border to east of Winnipeg (with bypasses of the large cities), not to mention the remainder of the CANAMEX corridor in Southern Alberta (from Calgary to the border crossing with I-15 at Coutts). You could also make an argument for a freeway along TCH-16 from west of Edmonton (starting at the AB-43 split, and using the northern Anthony Henday to bypass Edmonton) over to Saskatoon. SK-11 between Saskatoon and Regina would be another ideal candidate. TCH-16 in eastern SK and western MB generally does not connect any major cities (and parallels a hypothetical SK-11/TCH-1 freeway for Saskatoon-Winnipeg traffic), so anything more than a divided highway would probably be unnecessary there. Finally, the main TCH route across northern Ontario (from Falcon Lake, MB over towards Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Ottawa) should be a divided highway, not to mention having alternative routes for the various "single points of failure" on Canada's National Highway System in Northwestern Ontario (such as the Nipigon River Bridge, the best known of these due to the closure on January 10, 2016). The I-90/I-94 corridors in Montana and the Dakotas cross similarly desolate portions of the Plains as the aforementioned Canadian highways (outside of the Alberta CANAMEX corridor), and the five major cities of the Canadian Prairies (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg) seem to be larger than their U.S. counterparts in the northern Plains (Billings, Rapid City, Bismarck, Fargo).

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Well, don't forget the Coquihalla Highway between Kamloops and Hope. That is a full freeway, completely grade separated as is the Trans Canada Highway between Hope and Vancouver. Those are by far the 2 longest complete freeways in western Canada.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

The best complete freeway in western canada imho.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJClkouAfq5laqs

[@BrandonClaridge]

@@TransCanadaPhil Now that I think of it, that is true. TCH-1 from Vancouver to Hope, and then the Coquihalla over to Kamloops, would have to be the longest freeway in Western Canada. The QEII between Edmonton and Penhold would top the list for the three Prairie Provinces, but not Western Canada as a whole (as that includes BC). This would then be followed by the section of AB-2 from Carstairs to Okotoks (QEII+Deerfoot). There seems to be one at-grade intersection on the QEII just north of Red Deer (Township Road 392) with no crossover, and I'm not really counting it as keeping the Penhold-Edmonton section from being a freeway given the lack of crossover traffic (SB QEII keeps full freeway standards there, see at 18:45), and access to/from the NB QEII could be easily blocked off there. Many other at-grade intersections on that highway seem to have been removed in order to make the QEII freeway-standard for most of its length. It's really just that section from Bowden to Carstairs (except for one at-grade intersection between Penhold and Innisfail) that has kept many of its at-grade intersections. There also seem to be frontage roads in this area too, so Alberta could learn from Texas when upgrading the Bowden-Carstairs section to a freeway; for an example of how a rural road might go over a freeway with two-way frontage roads, see this example from I-45 south of Dallas: www.google.com/maps/@32.0096181,-96.4345163,3a,75y,177.25h,85.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-PoyzzkakrBI8sfV590ihw!2e0!7i13312!8i665 A similar Texas-style overpass could be applied somewhere like the QEII/Township Road 310 intersection near Carstairs: www.google.com/maps/@51.6196065,-114.0252694,3a,75y,351.95h,87.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGuypTo0fIW0F-BuruoET4w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[@mintybudgie]

how did near the middle why was calgary 168 kms when when the next km sign came up it was 242?

[@EpicThe112]

nice music choices Phillip and for Alberta they should raise the speed limit to 130 km/h (80mph) from 110km/h (70 mph) since some highways like Hwy 4 becomes the 15 freeway at Sweetgrass, MT and regarding Highway 2 it's the northern section of US-89 Flagstaff to Glen Canyon hwy which might mean that some of the trucks from Edmonton are following Highway 2 then us-89for trips to Arizona

[@tyfrank3427]

Epic the 112, I think that 120 will be the absolute maximum. Highway 2 also has a much higher traffic volume than Interstate 15 in Montana or Idaho too. The Alberta government's goal is six lanes between Edmonton and Calgary and some sections are underway. This will take several decades to complete although the section between Crossfield and Airdrie is scheduled to be completed in the next 3 years and a short section on the south side of Red Deer is under construction. Also provision was made for a 12 lane collector express similar to the 401 between Leduc and Edmonton. The longer overpasses have been built for its provision but currently uses the outer six lanes which in the future will be the collectors.

[@cjs121675]

Very nice ride! I always like to see the different highways of Canada! Plus, I love the ALF clips! Very nice touch- very nice ride!

[@TransCanadaPhil]

I'm always looking for clips from relevant movies and tv shows to use. When I saw this episode of ALF I knew I had to us those.

[@yurakazakov1996]

At 1:17 on the small screen the best moment fron alf tv series called "Ferrari" i know since my childhood in my hometown of Moscow

[@mattmoore2279]

7:55 Reminds me of Interstate 10 in Texas. Even though it's an interstate, and freeway, there are a few at-grade crossings to frontage roads. Both are close enough to be considered freeway status though.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

well they do call Alberta the Texas of Canada. Lots of Oil, Cowboys, and I suppose roads like this :-D

[@highway2heaven91]

Do they have any plans to get rid of those?

[@EuropeanRoads]

Nice, it's not the ultra-flat prairie land I expected. The rolling hills break the monotony and there's quite a bit of forest. It appears like a good road to experiment with 120-130 km/h speed limits, if they create some proper parking with on/offramps instead of a wide shoulder.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

the further north you are in the prairies the more hilly & forested it is. It's only really about 1/3rd of the southern part of the prairie provinces that are pure open prairie. 2/3 of the northern portion of these provinces are forested and actually quite rocky (precambrian shield).

[@CptSchmidt]

Every time they try to raise the speed limit in Canada, we're met with stiff resistance. Some people think going more than 100 will kill you, not poor road design. In Ontario, the highest speed limit posted anywhere is 100 even though the highways are prefectly safe for 130-140. In Prince Edward Island, the highest speed limit is 90!

[@TransCanadaPhil]

+CptSchmidt it was increased in Manitoba 2 years ago from 100 to 110.

[@tyfrank3427]

This area is known as the aspen parkland. It features a more rolling terrain and is forested by mostly poplar trees although there are a few spruce, too. The farmland has been cleared as it was originally all forest.

[@danielmuzika9584]

With the Coquihalla having a 120 km/h speed limit, it easily could put on the QEII. Most people drive 120-130 on it anyway. :)

[@schwenda3727]

A lot of those BGS's along the most rural stretches look very weird and substandard (presuming that Canada is predominantly close to par with signage throughout the U.S to a significant degree) with the weird lane arrows & exit arrows at the 1 or so km warning signs... Are those REALLY old signs or were provincial standards not changed until well into the 21st century?

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Which signs do u mean? Maybe I'm just drawing them wrong. I just eyeball it and draw it closely but I realize I'm not 100% accurate.

[@highway2heaven91]

Correct and correct. Most of those signs, especially the ones outside of the Edmonton area are older signs that may date back as early as the 70's in some cases although some of them are a lot newer. Alberta didn't start putting up American style signage until around 2005.

[@tyfrank3427]

Schwenda those lane arrows at 11:11 were at a former intersection that has been since taken out. Although this is the newer section of the highway, it was built in the early 1960s ahead of much of the Interstate system. Signage, like highways is actually provincial jurisdiction. Alberta is closer to the US signage, BC is slightly different. On the Alberta overhead signs, the lane arrows point down like in the U.S. In BC, they point up. I know that section of highway well, and he draws the signs very close.

[@Ilhom_tajibaev]

Awesome video! I like it. Alberta is a great place.

[@darrellinyvr]

The section on the Southbound lanes with the No Parking signs are because of the Alberta Provincial Rest Stop on the Northbound lanes of the QE2 that is not accessible southbound.....There is also a wire fence down the meridian now as drivers and truckers would stop and "bolt" across the road to use the facilities........The same thing on the Southbound Rest Area at Crossfield with no access from the Northbound lanes on the QE2.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Ahh that explains it. I was wondering.

[@FreewayFranks]

Good one ! Some of it remind me of A20 in Southern Québec.

[@FreewayTim]

I really like your music mixes.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

It's always fun trying to find tracks that work together.

[@CptSchmidt]

Great video, Phil. I think the no parking signs are for that raceway or playing field off to the left. Some people are too lazy to get off the highway at a junction and drive back, so they just stop on the side of the highway. There's a raceway just off Highway 104 here in NS and there's one off the 102 as well, and they had to put up no parking signs for the same reason. People ignore them anyway. They have them on the 118 as well next to Shubie Park because, again, some people are too damn lazy to drive to the parking lot, so they just stop on the side of the highway. It's very dangerous!

[@TransCanadaPhil]

yeah I would never think to stop and park right on a road that is obviously designed as a Freeway. Much better to try to find a proper pull-out.

[@tomsmith5584]

You mentioned something about the possibility of high speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton. With the new government in Ottawa, do you think that is a possibility?

[@TransCanadaPhil]

There's always talk on and off about doing it. Nothing concrete yet though.

[@tyfrank3427]

problem is, most of the passenger traffic doesn't go all the way from Edmonton to Calgary. A high speed LRT that follows the CPR line and stops at all the towns might be a much better solution as it will service a much larger population. CPR did run a dayliner in the 1970s between Edmonton and Calgary and if it was a viable solution, it wouldn't have ceased operations.

[@billdang3953]

@@tyfrank3427 On the old passenger rail service between Calgary & Edmonton, the rail diesel coach is sometimes referred to as the "Budd Car" in addition to "Dayliner".

[@Pyeknu]

"Ma-Me-O Beach"?! Where did that name come from?

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Ma-Me-O derives from the Cree words for "place of many shore birds". It was founded in 1924.

[@Pyeknu]

Ah, I understand. Hope to see you do a tour of Ontario sometime soon. Cheers!

[@tyfrank3427]

Was there yesterday and I forgot how nice it is. You can wade out quite a way before the water gets deeper. Go west of there and there's a nice little community with store and restaurants.

[@jameswormsley460]

awesome epic ride,lol funny how there's so many big trucks on the highway!!!

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Yup, this is the main road between Edmonton and Calgary, a major Truck route.

[@jameswormsley460]

+Trans Canada Phil yea sure is,just like here lol hahahahahahahahahahaha…somehow along the one n' only P.A the turnpike i ride on to and from baltimore on vacation has tons of trucks i like to see lol like a boss!!!

[@whiskeytomcat]

Are you going to do the entire Anthony Henday once its completed this fall?

[@TransCanadaPhil]

yup more than likely, the next time I'm in edmonton after it opens.

[@highway2heaven91]

When is the Red Deer to Calgary video being posted?

[@TransCanadaPhil]

the next one I'm making is the 2nd part of my Coquihalla video. perhaps after that one.

[@highway2heaven91]

Thanks. Been waiting for that one too.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

+highway2heaven91 I'm working on part 2 of this right now. It will be the next one.

[@curtiscullen7389]

Your videos are amazing, there Trans Canada Phil! I can't seem to find your video that goes from ed Deer to Olds, and that's the first video I saw that had heavy rock music in it. If you could comment me back that would be appreciated. Thanks. Curtis Cullen

[@TransCanadaPhil]

Curtis Cullen very strange, it should be episode 24 but it seems to be gone.. I have no clue why. I might have to re upload it.

[@curtiscullen7389]

Trans Canada Phil Thanks. I just can't get over how you put those videos together, eh? I'm amazed by your work so much that it makes me want to see more than what I have in my lifetime. I might just have to save a little cash and go on an adventure. But I debate whether or I should go with a friend or go solo. Once again thanks for commenting back. Stay strong!

[@tyfrank3427]

Episode 24 is still missing. I was hoping to watch it but it appears to be gone.

[@kurzovarchives30]

Still missing. Any updates?

[@geom6886]

Good video and good music too.

[@cmc8856]

Leduc is my old home town.

[@kurzovarchives30]

Heh. Got a quick laugh out of the "Alf" clips.

[@kiranmonis8457]

awesome

[@dotdriveontransportation1687]

Nice video but to be honest, Canada needs a expressway system.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

This one is an expressway. Pretty much non-stop freeway all the way. Only a few exceptions south of Red Deer. I think the rest of the Trans Canada Highway needs to be brought up to the standard of this highway, the Queen Elizabeth II highway between Edmonton and Calgary.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

This one is an expressway. Pretty much non-stop freeway all the way. Only a few exceptions south of Red Deer. I think the rest of the Trans Canada Highway needs to be brought up to the standard of this highway, the Queen Elizabeth II highway between Edmonton and Calgary.

[@TransCanadaPhil]

This one is an expressway. Pretty much non-stop freeway all the way. Only a few exceptions south of Red Deer. I think the rest of the Trans Canada Highway needs to be brought up to the standard of this highway, the Queen Elizabeth II highway between Edmonton and Calgary.

[@highway2heaven91]

It would be nice if there was one, but not a lot of people take cross-country road trips in Canada.

[@rogercapot3000]

+highway2heaven91 got any evidence supporting your statement or are you talking from your ass?