HARVIE HEIGHTS – A busy interchange near the Banff National Park east gates will be under construction this summer.
The Harvie Heights intersection upgrade will begin in the coming months – with construction tendering ongoing – and is expected to wrap up in the fall, according to an update to Municipal District of Bighorn’s governance and priorities committee on Tuesday (April 23).
“Construction is envisioned to begin this early summer and should be completed in the fall or substantially completed in the fall,” said Bill Luka, Bighorn’s director of engineering and infrastructure services.
Once finished, the interchange will be an all-way stop, not a two-way stop as originally proposed
“The highway off-ramp into Harvie Heights Road will be closed throughout construction,” stated a letter that will be sent out to residents of the hamlet in the coming weeks.
“Access will be maintained along Harvie Heights Road. Please expect delays.”
Luka told the committee they’ll be reviewing the budget, but it will ultimately be dependent on market pricing received through tenders.
The interchange can be confusing and can be a high-risk area for vehicle collisions.
The birdcage, as it’s often called due to its unconventional layout and design, can have a high volume of traffic because of its proximity to Banff National Park’s east gates.
Alberta Transportation – now known as Transportation and Economic Corridors – has flagged the intersection at Harvie Heights with the Trans-Canada Highway as a safety concern since 2005.
“The unconventional layout of the intersection contributes to the key safety concerns at the intersection,” the assessment stated. “The intersection does not conform to any of Alberta Transportation’s standard intersection types. Compared with a standard T-intersection, the existing layout contains more conflict points.
“In addition, the unconventional form of traffic control might increase the potential for non-compliance and wrong-way movements among unfamiliar drivers.”
The provincial ministry has previously stated that once the interchange is aligned, it would take over responsibility, meaning future infrastructure needs would be on the province rather than the MD of Bighorn.
A staff report in 2022 estimated the project at about $888,000. A McElhanney report at the same time estimated peak hour capacity of 825 trips were needed for upgrades to be made.
The project is being covered by a mix of reserves, grants and off-site levies.
An area redevelopment plan (ARP) is also ongoing for Harvie Heights, a community of about 160 people. When completed and approved by council, the plan will create guidelines and strategies for managing new and ongoing development in the hamlet.
Luka said there were no conflicts with the anticipated construction work and the ongoing ARP planning.
“Also part of the intersection upgrade project, we’re going to incorporate our 2024 pavement management plan on Harvie Heights Road,” Luka said.
