Several road changes were completed for Yellowhead Trail between 156 Street and St. Albert Trail.
Construction Update - Winter 2024
Construction on the 156 Street to St. Albert Trail segment of the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion is complete.
Drivers will experience:
- Three continuous lanes along Yellowhead Trail in both directions with an increased speed limit of 80 km/hr (from the previous 70 km/hr limit).
- New, dedicated, one-way service roads in the eastbound and westbound directions for improved access to St Albert Trail, 142 Street, 149 Street, 156 Street and businesses and adjacent communities.
- The removal of signalized intersections at 142 Street and 149 Street.
Additional upgrades include new sidewalk connections along both sides of Yellowhead Trail, new LED streetlighting, a new concrete sound wall installed along the Dovercourt community, and landscaping, including improved underground drainage to enhance road conditions during heavy rainfall.
Overhead signs will continue to be installed periodically until early 2025. Please follow construction signs and speed limits to ensure safety of the workers present.
Project Timeline
Build Phase
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2015
2012-2014
156 Street Project History
Construction started in 2021 and is ongoing between 156 Street to St. Albert Trail. The following work is in progress:
- Road work will resume in spring 2024 and includes the installation of concrete traffic barriers, street lighting, overhead signs and final top lift paving
- Landscaping will commence in spring 2024
- Utility work will resume in spring 2024 and includes final underground drainage installations
The following work is complete:
- Construction of all retaining walls: under the St. Albert Trail bridge, along the St. Albert Trail ramp, and under the 156 Street bridge
- Construction of storm pond at the southwest corner of Yellowhead Trail and 142 Street
- Dovercourt noise wall replacement
Traffic accommodations are currently in place:
- New Eastbound Service Road, accessed from eastbound Yellowhead Trail, west of 149 Street, provides access south of Yellowhead Trail to 149 Street, 142 Street, St Albert Trail and south businesses.
- New Westbound Service Road, accessed from westbound Yellowhead Trail, at 143 Street and 147 Street, provides access north of Yellowhead Trail to 143 Street, 149 Street, 156 Street and north businesses.
- Two lanes of traffic along Yellowhead Trail will be open during peak hours. There will be times overnight that only 1 lane in each direction will be open on Yellowhead Trail. The speed limit may be reduced to 40km/hour in construction zones and we ask the public to be mindful of signs and construction crews as they travel through the area.
Construction activities along Yellowhead Trail have led to Dovercourt and Sherbrooke residents expressing concerns about speeding and shortcutting within the neighbourhood.
To address these concerns, the City is implementing a detailed traffic management plan.
2023
2024
2025
For inquiries about these traffic safety measures, contact SafeRoads@edmonton.ca.
Construction started in 2021 and is ongoing between 156 Street to St. Albert Trail.
- Construction of all retaining walls, under the St. Albert Trail bridge, along the St. Albert Trail ramp, and under 156 Street bridge is complete
- Utility work between 156 Street to St. Albert Trail will be complete by end of 2023
- Construction of storm pond at the southwest corner of Yellowhead Trail and 142 Street is complete
- Dovercourt noise wall replacement is complete
Three lanes of traffic along Yellowhead Trail will be open during peak hours. There will be times overnight that only 1 lane in each direction will be open on Yellowhead Trail. The speed limit may be reduced to 40km/hour in construction zones and we ask the public to be mindful of signs and construction crews as they travel through the area.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Online Pre-construction Information Session on June 3, 2021. The project team presented the construction staging schedule and answered questions from event participants.
Your input matters.
The City invited you to explore the design and share your feedback through Engaged Edmonton in October 2020. Your valuable feedback was used to advise the preliminary design for the project due to start construction in 2021.
As part of the public engagement process, we are committed to reporting back on how your input was collected and used.
Reference Materials:
Project Update - October 2020
Westbound Yellowhead Trail changes
Eastbound Yellowhead Trail changes
Videos:
Welcome Video: Project Overview
Travelling Eastbound
Travelling Westbound
Crossing Yellowhead Trail Southbound
Crossing Yellowhead Trail Northbound
Dovercourt and Sherbrooke Residents
The final concept plan was presented to the Transportation Committee on October 7, 2015.
The City focused on refining the preferred concept plan for Yellowhead Trail at 149 Street. The preferred concept includes one-way service roads parallel to Yellowhead Trail on the north and south sides. There is no connection proposed for 149 Street across Yellowhead Trail. The City will evaluate the changes that will be required to the surrounding road network to address changes in travel pattern as a result of the proposed plan.
The City completed the final stages of a significant public engagement process that resulted in the development and refinement of a preferred option for freeway operation of Yellowhead Trail at 149 Street.
Public Involvement Report
The public engagement process included an Open House in June 2012 with a second open house in September 2013, 11 key partner meetings, discussions with internal and external partners such as CN Rail and utility companies, information bulletins to the community and the establishment of a Stakeholder Input Group (SIG).
This group of area partners worked with City planners to develop ideas for converting Yellowhead Trail at 149 Street to a freeway operation, while retaining reasonable access to the adjacent businesses and the Dovercourt community. The partner group helped to identify and develop:
- Issues and constraints
- Evaluation criteria and their relative weighting
- Interchange and preferred access arrangements
Over the course of several workshops, the community members helped to evaluate and reduce the total number of alternatives.
After significant development and evaluation of alternatives, the City arrived at a recommended configuration for the area based on input received from internal and external partners, as well as Transportation Committee.
This preferred option includes one-way service roads parallel to Yellowhead Trail on the north and south sides. There is no connection proposed for 149 Street across Yellowhead Trail.
On Tuesday September 17, the City of Edmonton hosted a public meeting to provide information on the recommended concept for free flow operation of Yellowhead Trail at 149 Street.
During the Open House, the public were invited to view the presentation boards and maps, ask questions of our project staff and pick-up project information material.
Two freeway options were presented to City Council on July 10, 2013; Freeway Strategy A which includes a ¾ diamond, grade separated interchange and Freeway Strategy B that which includes one-way service roads with right-in/right-out access north and south of Yellowhead Trail as well as improvements to parallel routes on 128 Avenue, 123 Avenue and 124 Avenue.
Presentation to the Transportation Committee of Council
Strategy Option A
Strategy Option B (4.43 MB)
Council Report
An information bulletin was mailed out to community groups and businesses adjacent to the intersection . The bulletin provided an update on feedback received during the June 2012 Open House and requested comments or suggestions from the public.
A public Open House was held in June 2012 to introduce the project and provide background information. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the project and provide comments. Thanks to residents and community partners who attended the June 13, 2012 meeting on the 149 Street Interchange at Yellowhead Trail.
Project Fact Sheet
Open House Overview Presentation – June 2012