MCKNIGHT BOULEVARD

FALL 2024 PROJECT UPDATE

Interchange improvements explained

High traffic volumes on eastbound McKnight Boulevard turning left to go north on Deerfoot Trail and turning left to go north on 12 Street NE create congestion at the interchange.

For drivers wanting to go north on Deerfoot Trail, the left turn bay is too short to accommodate all the vehicles during peak periods, causing back up into the eastbound lanes. By shifting the ramp to the east, the left turn lane can be lengthened to improve safety and reduce congestion.

Moving the ramp from eastbound McKnight Boulevard to northbound Deerfoot Trail further east to lengthen the left-turn lane

Similarly, a significant number of vehicles are going north on 12 Street NE, forcing drivers coming from northbound Deerfoot Trail to merge across two lanes in a very short distance. To accommodate the high traffic volumes, the ramp is being shifted west and widened to three lanes. New traffic signals on the ramp and on eastbound McKnight Boulevard will improve safety by allowing drivers to get into their desired lanes without oncoming traffic.

Re-aligning and widening the exit ramp to three lanes to accommodate high traffic volumes

McKnight Boulevard NE interchange improvement plan

Progress in 2024

Considerable progress has been made on re-aligning the ramps to and from northbound Deerfoot Trail this year. Traffic has been shifted to the re-aligned ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail to eastbound McKnight Boulevard and the ramp from eastbound McKnight Boulevard to northbound Deerfoot Trail is nearing completion and expected to open in early 2025.

Ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail to eastbound McKnight Boulevard

Looking south at excavation and topsoil stripping for the new ramp alignment to eastbound McKnight Boulevard
Looking south at excavation and topsoil stripping for the new ramp alignment to eastbound McKnight Boulevard
Looking north at backfilling the new ramp alignment
Looking north at backfilling the new ramp alignment
The new ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail is paved
The new ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail is paved
With traffic shifted to the new ramp, the old ramp has been removed and the area is being remediated
With traffic shifted to the new ramp, the old ramp has been removed and the area is being remediated
Electrical lines and foundations have been installed for the new traffic signals that will control traffic on the ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail to eastbound McKnight Boulevard
Electrical lines and foundations have been installed for the new traffic signals that will control traffic on the ramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail to eastbound McKnight Boulevard

Ramp from eastbound McKnight Boulevard to northbound Deerfoot Trail

Compacting granular base course for the re-aligned ramp from eastbound McKnight Boulevard to northbound Deerfoot Trail
Compacting granular base course for the re-aligned ramp from eastbound McKnight Boulevard to northbound Deerfoot Trail
Removing the median for the new intersection east of the original intersection
Removing the median for the new intersection east of the original intersection

What’s next

Work to reconfigure the exits from Deerfoot Trail to McKnight Boulevard will continue into 2025.

September 2024 image courtesy of Google Earth showing work east of Deerfoot Trail to reconfigure the exit

Widening northbound Deerfoot Trail, south of McKnight Boulevard
Subscribe to stay informed

Land Acknowledgement

Deerfoot Trail is located within Treaty 7, and within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai Nations; the Stoney-Nakoda, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley Nations; and the Tsuut’ina Nation. We also acknowledge the homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3.

© Copyright 2025