Following erosion damage caused by heavy rainfall, repairs and road replacement will be done on 137 Avenue by Horseshoe Creek.
Project Update - August 2026
Construction is scheduled to begin in September and finish in mid November.
Reconstruction will include:
- A new larger culvert to manage increased water flows through Horseshoe Creek
- The embankment will be widened to accommodate both the road and a shared pathway
- Curbs and gutters will also be incorporated into the roadway over Horseshoe Creek
- Road paving and landscaping
Project Overview
Heavy rainfall earlier this summer caused significant erosion, which made both 137 Avenue and the pedestrian bridge by Horseshoe Creek unsafe for use. EPCOR led the initial response and will fund the remediation work, while the City will manage reconstruction.
The City appreciates the communities’ patience. These repairs require engineering design and environmental approvals to ensure the crossing is safe and resilient for the long term.
Project Location
137 Avenue and Horseshoe Creek
Access and Detours
- Vehicle, pedestrian or boat access beyond the barricades continue to be prohibited.
- Access to the Big Lake communities is via 215 Street (Winterburn Road) and Yellowhead Trail.
- Communities west of the creek can detour via 199 Street and 118A Avenue to Winterburn Road.
- Starling Drive east of Horseshoe Creek remains accessible from 137 Avenue via Ray Gibbon Drive.
- The City has adjusted signal timing and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The City and EPCOR have routinely monitored Horseshoe Creek, including conducting inspections after major storm events. Until the record rainfall experienced in June, inspections confirmed the culvert was functioning, and the roadway remained safe for public use.
Following the rainfall, erosion progressed rapidly and reached a point where immediate closure was necessary to protect public safety. Once the roadway was determined to be unsafe, it was closed immediately and emergency response work began.
Residents can continue to access the Big Lake communities via Winterburn Road (215 Street) and Yellowhead Trail. Additional neighbourhood connections have been opened to accommodate detour traffic, and signal timing at the Yellowhead Trail and Winterburn Road interchanges has been adjusted to improve traffic flow.
The City continues to monitor traffic conditions and will make further operational adjustments where appropriate. Traffic calming measures are also scheduled for installation on Starling Drive this August to help address increased neighbourhood traffic.
Construction is scheduled to start in the first week of September once the City takes over the site from EPCOR on August 31. Construction is expected to take approximately nine weeks, and will be completed mid-November. Some work is weather dependent, the roadway top lift paving and landscaping may be deferred until 2027.
The new design will widen the embankment for both a roadway and shared pathway. This ensures that pedestrian access can be restored at the same time as vehicle access.
Project Timeline
2026
- Engineering design and environmental permitting
- Emergency Repair work
- Construction is scheduled from September to mid November 2026, weather permitting.
- Some weather dependant work may be deferred to 2027.