The scope of this project is to plan for widening of Country Hill Boulevard to six lanes from Coventry Boulevard N.E. to Barlow Trail N.E, and investigate associated bridge upgrades required across Deerfoot Trail, Nose Creek and the CP Rail tracks.

This functional planning study is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020. We are in Phase 2, the Explore Phase, and are considering concepts and conducting initial evaluation for the widening of Country Hills Boulevard N.E. between Coventry Boulevard N.E. and Barlow Trail N.E.. The final plan will be presented to the public in Phase 3 (Fall 2020).

With the existing traffic congestion and planned growth along Country Hills Boulevard N.E., the widening of Country Hills Boulevard N.E. from four to six lanes from Coventry Boulevard N.E. to Barlow Trail N.E. is a critical project for The City. This project supports the development of Country Hills Boulevard as a key east/west connector, providing goods movement as well as transit and active modes connections.

The City currently does not have funding available or a set timeline to begin construction. One goal of this study is to try to define budgets and high level timelines for the Country Hills Boulevard N.E. widening.

Following Phase 2 “Explore Phase” of public engagement, design options will be further evaluated and a recommended plan developed to be presented back to the public this fall as part of Phase 3 “Reveal Phase”. Final refinements will then be made and the functional planning study finalized. After the completion of the functional planning study, the project will move forward with preliminary and detailed design when funding becomes available. The timing of construction will be determined during detailed design.

Public and stakeholder feedback arising from Phase 1 “The Discover Phase” has been used by The City to develop concepts and a What We Heard report can be found at calgary.ca/CountryHillsWidening.

Feedback received during Phase 2 “Explore Phase”, our current phase, will be used by The City to refine the evaluation of concepts and to develop a recommended plan. A What We Heard report from this phase of engagement will be available online this fall.

Feedback arising from Phase 3 “The Reveal Phase”, will be considered to finalize the recommended plan.

The top five priorities from the first round of engagement were:

1. Traffic Safety
2. Community Access
3. Improved Vehicle Time
4. Bicycle Accommodation
5. Pedestrian Accommodation

The top seven priorities from the first round of engagement and a priority from The City were used to evaluate the options.

1. Traffic Safety
2. Community Access
3. Improved Vehicle Time
4. Bicycle Accommodation
5. Pedestrian Accommodation
6. Environmental Sustainability
7. Pathway Connectivity
8. Construction Cost (City’s priority)

In 2019 traffic volumes were:

• Up to 33,000 vehicles per day (vpd) used Country Hills Blvd (west of Deerfoot Trail)
• Up to 24,000 vehicles per day (vpd) used Country Hills Blvd (east of Deerfoot Trail)

Over the next 20 years, it is expected that new industrial and business areas will be developed north of Country Hills Blvd. and traffic is expected to be:

• Up to 56,000 vpd on Country Hills Blvd (west of Deerfoot Trail) when the area is fully developed
• Up to 44,000 vpd on Country Hills Blvd (east of Deerfoot Trail) when the area is fully developed

Yes, there will eventually be connectivity for all travel modes. We are planning for pathways on both sides of the roadway along Country Hills Boulevard N.E. in the study area.

Minimal impacts to Nose Creek are expected due to future bridge widening, as the widening will occur outside of the bed and shore of Nose Creek. Impacts and mitigation to Nose Creek will be further examined during the biophysical impact assessment prior to construction.

A Preliminary Natural Site Assessment (PNSA) and a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) have been conducted as part of the first phase of this study. Further biophysical analysis is required for the detailed design phase of the Project where it interacts with the Nose Creek valley and/or the wetland areas along the northern portion of the interchange with Deerfoot Trail. No further study is required where natural features do not exist, or where impacts can be avoided.

The Country Hills Boulevard Project will follow Alberta Environment’s Wetland Policy’s and will first attempt to avoid wetland impacts, followed by minimizing impacts and finally replacing wetlands where impacts cannot be avoided. Wetland replacement is required when wetland impacts that cannot be avoided or minimized will result in permanent loss of wetland area. Options for wetland replacement include: paying Wetland Replacement Fee to the Government of Alberta, who will put the fee towards wetland replacement elsewhere, or undertake wetland replacement or restoration on site. Wetland impacts, replacement and potential compensation sites will be examined during the biophysical impact assessment prior to construction.