Macleod Trail (Calgary)

Macleod Trail is a major road in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a six to eight lane principal arterial road extending from downtown Calgary to the south of the city, where it merges into Highway 2. South of Anderson Road, Macleod Trail is an expressway and is slated to be upgraded to a freeway in the near future. It was named for one of the city founders, Colonel James Macleod.

Until the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882, "Macleod Trail" was the main trade route from Missouri River to southern Alberta. [Cite web| url= http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/system-reseau/sec8/sites-lieux95_e.asp | title= National Historic Sites Of Canada | author= Parks canada | authorlink= Parks Canada | year= 2004 | moth= Octoer| accessdate= 2007-05-25]

The road effectively divides the south-west and the south-east quadrants of the city, and many communities (inner city as well as suburban) were developed along its course.Cite web| url= http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_780_230_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Development+and+Building+Approvals+and+Land+Use+Planning+and+Policy/Planning+Policy+Information/Online+Information/Calgary+Transportation+Plan/Section+2+Land+Use.htm | title= The Calgary Transportation Plan| author= City of Calgary| month= February | year= 2005| accessdate=2007-05-25] Macleod Trail (along with Crowchild Trail-Glenmore Trail-14 Street S and Anderson Road) constitutes one of the four major north-south corridors of the city. [Cite web|url= http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_780_230_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Development+and+Building+Approvals+and+Land+Use+Planning+and+Policy/Planning+Policy+Information/Online+Information/Calgary+Transportation+Plan/Fig5+Transportation+System+Map.htm | title= Transportation System Map| author= City of Calgary| month= July | year= 2002| accessdate=2007-05-25]

In the downtown section, the road passes by the Calgary City Hall, Olympic Plaza, the Calgary Public Library, the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts. South of downtown it defines the western edge of the Calgary Stampede grounds, as it passes through the Beltline district, then provides access to Talisman Centre as it runs between the historic inner city communities of Mission and Ramsay. South of Elbow River, Macleod Trail becomes a two-way road and has various motels eslablished on its sides, and Chinook Centre faces the road as it passes between the communities of Meadowlark Park, Kingsland and Fairview. Macleod Trail is lined with commercial developments on both sides for its entire length between Erlton and Lake Bonavista, including strip malls, auto malls, big-box stores and shopping centres such as Southcentre Mall, and Calgary's largest suburban office complex at Southland Park. The southern leg of the C-Train LRT system (Route 201) is also developed along Macleod Trail.

In November 2007, Calgary City Council approved a functional planning study for the portion of Macleod Trail that extends from Anderson Road north to Downtown. Expected recommendations include interchanges at Heritage Drive and Southland Drive, as well as possible traffic signal refinements. [Cite web|url= http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=bd15f2ed-c4b3-442f-a696-b2b77e52e739&k=70488 | title= Alderman Urging Macleod Trail Study | author= Calgary Herald | month= November | year= 2007 | accessdate=2007-12-03 ] In addition, three other interchange locations are planned to be constructed within ten years. They are at the intersection with Lake Frasier Gate, at the intersection with 162 Avenue, and at the intersection with 194 Avenue. [ Cite web |url= http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/trans_planning/forecasting/forecasting_toolbox/rtm_anticipated_projects_part1.pdf | title= Calgary Regional Transportation Model Anticipated Projects List 2001-2015 | author= City Of Calgary | month= April | year= 2007 | accessdate=2007-12-03 ] [ Cite web |url= http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/trans_planning/forecasting/forecasting_toolbox/rtm_anticipated_projects_part2.pdf | title= Calgary Regional Transportation Model Anticipated Projects List 2020-2035 | author= City Of Calgary | month= April | year= 2007 | accessdate=2007-12-03 ] This would make Macleod Trail a freeway from Anderson Road to the city limits.

Major intersections

ee also

*Transportation in Calgary

References