Road widening and overpass construction between Sherwood Park Freeway and 90 Avenue started in 2022. The project is expected to be fully complete in 2026.
Project Update - Summer 2026
- Pedestrian access along 50 Street will be maintained until the project is fully complete.
- Southbound overpass construction is complete, and the overpass is now open to traffic. Southbound traffic that was previously using the split northbound overpass has been transitioned to the new southbound overpass. Both the northbound and southbound overpasses now accommodate two through lanes and one dedicated turning lane.
- Construction and paving of 84 Avenue have been completed. The roadway is scheduled to open to the public in fall 2026. Currently, it’s supporting site access to complete the remaining abutment and pier finishing work.
- Construction of the pedestrian facilities is ongoing, including the multi-use path on the east side and the sidewalk on the west side of 50 Street over the CP rail tracks on both the northbound and southbound overpasses.
- Landscaping will be completed after the pedestrian facilities are finished.
Project Update - Summer 2026
- Pedestrian access along 50 Street will be maintained until the project is fully complete.
- Southbound overpass construction is complete, and the overpass is now open to traffic. Southbound traffic that was previously using the split northbound overpass has been transitioned to the new southbound overpass. Both the northbound and southbound overpasses now accommodate two through lanes and one dedicated turning lane.
- Construction and paving of 84 Avenue have been completed. The roadway is scheduled to open to the public in fall 2026. Currently, it’s supporting site access to complete the remaining abutment and pier finishing work.
- Construction of the pedestrian facilities is ongoing, including the multi-use path on the east side and the sidewalk on the west side of 50 Street over the CP rail tracks on both the northbound and southbound overpasses.
- Landscaping will be completed after the pedestrian facilities are finished.
About the Project
50 Street provides access to adjacent developing industrial areas and functions as a major north-south commuter and goods movement corridor. Currently, the at-grade Canadian Pacific (CP) railway crossing along 50 Street, north of Sherwood Park Freeway, is identified as the City’s top priority location for grade separation based on delays, traffic impact, frequency of train crossings and other factors.
With ongoing development along 50 Street, particularly along the industrial and residential areas south of Sherwood Park Freeway, traffic volumes and congestion at this crossing will continue to increase. The 50 Street widening and railway grade separation will:
- Widen 50 Street to a 6 lane divided roadway between Sherwood Park Freeway and 90 Avenue
- Create an overpass for vehicles and active transportation over the rail crossing
- Construct a shared-use path on the east side of 50 Street
- Upgrade the sidewalk on the west side of 50 Street
Construction between Sherwood Park Freeway and 90 Avenue started in 2022. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
Sherwood Park Freeway to 76 Avenue
Reconstruction of 50 Street from Sherwood Park Freeway to 76 Avenue has also been identified. This work will include widening 50 Street to a 6-lane divided roadway, including the shared-use path and sidewalks, relocation of overhead utilities and replacement and widening of the existing 50 Street bridge over Sherwood Park Freeway. This area is currently unfunded and will not be constructed with the north part of 50 Street.
Final Design Images
Construction Information
Final Design
Final Design Flyover
Project History
Construction on the southbound overpass is complete and will open to traffic in early-to-mid December, weather permitting. Once the southbound overpass is open, southbound traffic using the split northbound overpass will transition to the southbound overpass. The northbound and southbound overpass will now accommodate two through lanes and one turning lane.
Pedestrian access will be maintained on 50 Street until full project completion.
In 2026, 82 Avenue will be paved and reopened. Pedestrian access along 50 Street above the CP tracks on the overpasses will be constructed in both the northbound and southbound directions. Landscaping work will be completed.
Construction on the northbound overpass is complete and will open to traffic in mid-September 2024. Opening the overpass eliminates the need for vehicles to wait at the rail crossing and will improve traffic flow.
Once the northbound structure is open, both northbound and southbound traffic will be detoured onto the new overpass to allow work to begin on the southbound overpass. Work on the southbound overpass will start in fall 2024 and continue through 2025.
Additional Construction Impacts
- Once traffic has been routed onto the new overpass, the 82 Avenue and 50 Street intersection will be closed and will remain closed until fall 2026. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
- This fall, (over approximately 4 weeks) lane closures will occur in stages at the 90 Avenue and 50 Street intersection, beginning with the closure of the westbound lanes, followed by the eastbound lanes. These closures will enable ongoing storm sewer work.
Construction Bulletins
Fall 2024
82 Avenue and 50 Street Intersection Closure
90 Avenue and 50 Street Lane Closures
Construction of the northbound overpass began in November 2022 and is anticipated to be open to traffic in fall 2024. Once this structure is built, traffic will be detoured onto this bridge so that work can begin on the southbound structure. Construction on the southbound section of the overpass is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
During construction, 4 lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction) will continue to flow on 50 Street. Both northbound and southbound vehicles will use the west side of 50 Street while construction of the northbound overpass is underway on the east side.
We thank everyone for their patience while the overpass construction is underway.
Construction Bulletins
Construction Bulletins
Construction of the northbound overpass began in November 2022 and is anticipated to be open to traffic in 2024. Once this structure is built, traffic will be detoured onto this bridge so that work can begin on the southbound structure. Construction on the southbound section of the overpass is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
During construction, 4 lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction) will continue to flow on 50 Street. Both northbound and southbound vehicles will use the west side of 50 Street while construction of the northbound overpass is underway on the east side.
We thank everyone for their patience while the overpass construction is underway.
Construction of the northbound overpass began in November 2022 and is anticipated to be open to traffic in 2024. Once this structure is built, traffic will be detoured onto this bridge so that work can begin on the southbound structure. Construction on the southbound section of the overpass is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
During construction, 4 lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction) will continue to flow on 50 Street. Both northbound and southbound vehicles will use the west side of 50 Street while construction of the northbound overpass is underway on the east side.
We thank everyone for their patience while the overpass construction is underway.
Construction Bulletins
Construction of the northbound overpass began in November 2022 and is anticipated to be open to traffic in 2024. Once this structure is built, traffic will be detoured onto this bridge so that work can begin on the southbound structure. Construction on the southbound section of the overpass is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
During construction, 4 lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction) will continue to flow on 50 Street. Both northbound and southbound vehicles will use the west side of 50 Street while construction of the northbound overpass is underway on the east side.
We thank everyone for their patience while the overpass construction is underway.
50 Street Newsletter - Winter/Spring 2023
Construction Bulletin - November 2022
Drainage work on the northeast service road and construction of the detour roadway have been completed. In 2022, EPCOR Water, EPCOR Distribution and Transmission, Shaw, Telus, and ATCO Gas will be working in the area. Once the utilities have completed their work, the reconstruction of the road will begin. It is anticipated that the road work will be completed in 2022.
Construction of the northbound overpass began in early May 2022 and is anticipated to be open to traffic in 2024. Once this structure is built, traffic will be detoured onto this bridge so that work can begin on the southbound structure. Construction on the southbound section of the overpass is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
During construction, 4 lanes of traffic (2 lanes in each direction) will continue to flow on 50 Street. Both northbound and southbound vehicles will use the west side of 50 Street while construction of the overpass is underway on the east side.
We thank everyone for their patience while construction of the overpass is underway.
Construction Newsletter
Construction Bulletin - May 2022
Public Information Session Presentation - May 2022
Q&A Public Information Session - May 2022
Pre-construction activities start this summer including building the detour road, selective tree removals and reconstruction of the storm and sanitary sewer near 50 Street. The detour road will be used while the overpass is being constructed starting in spring 2022 and selective trees in the area will be removed to build the detour road. Preserving trees is an important part of this project and the asset value of the removed trees will be added to the new tree planting scheduled for the project.
The service road east of 50 Street, between 84 Avenue and 90 Avenue will be closed for the 2021 construction season to reconstruct the storm and sanitary sewer. Businesses will have access from 90 Avenue and 46 Street while construction is underway.
We thank everyone in the area for their patience while we start pre-construction work to prepare for the start of construction next year.
Construction Bulletins
Storm and Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction
Detour Road and Tree Removal
Thank you to everyone who joined the online public information session on April 21, 2021 to view the final design and have your questions answered by the project team.
The final design includes widening 50 Street to 3 lanes in each direction, creating an overpass to separate vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from the rail, a shared-use path on the east side and a sidewalk on the west side of the road.
For more information, please review the Questions and Answers from the event or read the Spring 2021 Newsletter.
The concept plan for phase 1 of the 50 Street Widening and Railway Grade Separation project has been finalized. Plans include:
- Widening 50 Street from Sherwood Park Freeway to 90 Avenue
- Overpass at the CP rail crossing
- Shared-use path on the east side of 50 Street
- Sidewalk on west side of 50 Street
The project now moves into the preliminary design stage. The preliminary design is expected to be finalized in 2021. Pre-construction (for example, utility relocation) begins in 2021. Construction is expected to begin in 2022, with an anticipated completion in 2026.
The preliminary design, along with project updates, will be shared in fall 2020. All opportunities to review and ask questions about the design will take place within a COVID-19 compliant framework.
The City is finalizing the preliminary design which is anticipated to be completed in 2019. The preliminary design includes:
- Widening 50 Street from 4 to 6 lanes
- Grade separating the CP railway crossing
- Replacing the bridge over Sherwood Park Freeway
Grade separating the railway tracks and widening 50 Street will accommodate existing and future traffic demands as well as remove any delays that now exist at the railway crossing.
The City has compiled a summary of recurring themes from partner and public input received on the project.
Geotechnical work was done summer 2018 including drilling holes as part of the geotechnical investigations required for the grade separation of the rail crossing.
This and other field work continued throughout the months of July, August and September to gather background information on the area, helping to determine how the railway grade separation could be designed and constructed.
The City held a drop-in public information session to share details about the project and answer questions on June 26, 2018 at The King's University.
Event Materials:
Fact Sheet
Display Boards
On May 15, 2018, the City welcomed the federal government’s commitment to provide funding required to grade separate the 50 Street and CP railway crossing just north of Sherwood Park Freeway. With this announcement, construction of the grade separation is expected to begin in 2019 with utility work happening first.
Concept plans for this project were prepared in 2010 and have been validated, but are not yet final. The 2010 plans indicate project limits extending from 90 Avenue to Whitemud Drive, while the project limits in the current study extend from 90 Avenue to 76 Avenue only. The 2010 plans include the widening concept plan and the grade separation concept plan.