Transportation routes are an important component of a municipality’s infrastructure. Adequate highways, gravel roads, bridges, signage, and lights contribute to efficient and safe travel throughout a municipality. Added traffic volume to transportation routes is an understandable result of growth and development in a region, and necessitates a proactive long-term approach to planning.

Through a collaborative process with area residents and industry members, traffic in AIH was noted as an issue of importance as growth in the region continues. The main traffic concerns included the need for wider highways, paving specific gravel roads that would see a definite volume increase, additional bridges over the North Saskatchewan River, and improved intersections. Additionally, it was recognized that industrial and passenger vehicle traffic volume would increase with growth and development.

Commitment from industry, municipalities, and local organizations to address traffic concerns have resulted in several beneficial initiatives. As part of phase two of the overall Eco-Industrial Master Plan for the region, traffic studies are underway, with the final report and recommendations to be released later in 2010 (see below for link to information on Transportation Study). Additionally, the Northeast Capital Industrial Association (NCIA) is creating a committee of member companies to establish plans for minimizing traffic impacts due to construction and other industrial-related activities. Taken together, all plans and tools will see all stakeholders work collaboratively on an approach to traffic management and improvements to transportation systems.

Click to obtain a map of the current major road network in AIH, as of December 2008 (906 kb)

Click to review information on the Transportation Study that is underway in Alberta's Industrial Heartland