Highway 2 Gaetz Avenue Interchange Improvement Project

What's New

• It is anticipated the new, permanent southbound lanes of Highway 2, beginning at Taylor Drive, will be open to traffic on July 23, 2017. Crews will begin making final preparations on Saturday night, July 22, 2017, and will begin moving traffic onto the new lanes at 5.a.m. Sunday morning. Traffic will be shifted onto the new lanes in stages, and it is expected all traffic will be on the new lanes by at 9 a.m. This work is weather dependent.
• The girders for two of the new Highway 2 bridges over Taylor Drive are now in place. Thank you for your patience during the night closures of Taylor Dr.
• Reduced speed limits will remain in effect through the construction zone as work will take place during the day and night.
• To view current traffic conditions on:
  • Highway 2 eastbound traffic at the exit to Taylor Drive, click here.
  • Highway 2 and Gasoline Alley northbound traffic, south of the Gaetz Avenue turn-off, click here.

What to Expect in 2017

The following work is planned for 2017. Please watch for various traffic detours throughout the 2017 construction season.

• Work on or around Taylor Drive to include:
  • Building up reinforced fill on both sides of Taylor Drive to stabilize the embankment for the new bridges;
  • Construction of concrete deck/barriers for the northbound Taylor Drive bridges; and
  • Completion of the mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls along Taylor Drive
• Construction of the new alignment for the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway between Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive
• High-mast street lighting and underground pipe installation
• Construction of the north and south collector-distributor roads adjacent to Highway 2
• Reconstruction of the corner of Spruce Street and Gasoline Alley East
• Construction of the Leva Avenue roundabout

2016 Construction Progress

• Southbound Gaetz Avenue to Highway 2 was closed in September 2016 to facilitate construction of the new Gaetz Avenue bridge and new Highway 2 alignment.
• Temporary traffic signals were installed at the Highway 2A (Taylor Drive) interchange ramp to provide detour access to Highway 2 southbound.
• Grading work began in the median of Highway 2.
• Foundation piles were driven for the Taylor Drive and Gaetz Avenue bridges.
• A noise berm adjacent to Waskasoo Estates was constructed.
• Other work included: wick drain installation in the northwest area of the interchange, storm pipe installation and temporary retaining walls were constructed.

For more information, please email us at info@hwy2gaetz.com.

In 2016, Alberta Transportation began a multi-year project to construct a new interchange at Highway 2, Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive, south of the City of Red Deer.

In addition to being an important corridor for highway travel, Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive provide access to key destinations for local residents.

The new interchange will:

• Accommodate increased traffic volumes on Highway 2 by providing for three lanes in each direction.
• Improve safety for motorists on these roads by separating high and low speed traffic getting to and from the highway.
• Integrate the Taylor Drive and Gaetz Avenue interchanges into one full interchange system, improving safety and ease of travel.

Construction of the interchange began September, 2016, and is estimated to be completed in fall 2018, weather dependent.

The project will include the removal of three bridge structures, construction of five new bridge structures, reconfiguration of ramps and intersections, realignment of Highway 2, expansion to six lanes between 32 Street and Mackenzie Road and the construction of new collector-distributor roads.

The interchange system is designed to separate high speed highway traffic from low speed local traffic. This will be accomplished with the construction of a new collector-distributor road system. The collector-distributor road system will include a one-way road on each side of the highway that will run parallel to the highway.

Motorists can expect some delays in the area during construction, however, two lanes in each direction will be open on Highway 2 during the day, and access to businesses in Gasoline Alley East and Gasoline Alley West will be maintained.