Commuters in the downtown core are expected to benefit from a six month pilot project designed to reduce afternoon traffic headaches.
From Monday through Friday, beginning May 19, the city will reverse the traffic flow in two of the four eastbound lanes of 5 Avenue Southwest between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The change will impact 5 Avenue traffic between 7 Street and 11 Street Southwest. The new traffic pattern will see westbound lanes exit at Bow Trail or southbound 10 Street S.W.
According to officials the City of Calgary Roads, the lane reversal is expected to reduce travel time out of the core by an estimated 15 per cent.
“It’s just a matter of optimizing the existing infrastructure,” explains Patrick Grisak, project manager. “5 Avenue is very underutilized in the afternoon peak period and the others, 4 (Ave) and 6 (Ave), are very, very busy.”
In the west end of downtown, eastbound 5 Avenue often transports only a quarter of its capacity during the afternoon rush, while adjacent westbound avenues are over capacity.
“In order to optimize use of the infrastructure, we implemented these lane reversals to provide some relief to those very busy routes.”
The estimated cost of the pilot project is $600,000. Signage for the lane reversal, including traffic lights, has been erected. Each weekday, city workers will place traffic cones and detour signs along 5 Ave.
