Boilerplate

Description

The Highway 1A improvements Project is a long-awaited upgrade to the Highway 1A corridor through Cochrane from east of Centre Avenue to west of Fifth Avenue.

The project includes: 

• widening from two lanes to four lanes from east of Centre Avenue to west of Fifth Avenue
• realignment of Fourth Ave to Fifth Ave
• new access, parking and turning lanes for Sixth Ave W businesses
• improved pedestrian network with a new sidewalk and a paved multi-use pathway

Background 

Widening highway 1A has long been a priority for both the Province and Town of Cochrane and is an important piece of Cochrane’s Traffic Plan. This project was approved in the fall of 2020, as Council recognized an opportunity to utilize Provincial grant funding to support these roadway improvements. 

This project provides a much-needed improvement to the highway corridor that is experiencing heavy congestion for both local and regional users. The project also includes additional pathways and crosswalks, ensuring a safer experience for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. 

Location 

Highway 1A corridor through Cochrane from east of Centre Avenue to west of Fifth Avenue.

Updates

• July 2024: We are thrilled to announce that the paving work on Hwy 1A is officially complete!

  We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout this project. Your dedication to traffic accommodations made a significant difference. As always, please stay safe while traveling in the area, and let's continue to support each other. Landscaping and warranty work will continue when weather permits. 

How will this project benefit the community?

Traffic on the hill and along Highway 1A continues to challenge our community. This work paves the way for streamlined traffic flow along Highway 1A and through the Highway 1A/22 interchange. 

Strategic alignment

This project supports Council's strategic priority of community connectivity, and specifically, advocating for Highway 1A improvements within the Town boundaries, including Centre Avenue and 5th Avenue intersections.

2024 project board

Construction began in May 2023 and is anticipated to be completed by Fall 2025. This project includes: 

• Expanding Highway 1A from two to four lanes (2 lanes in each direction) from just west of Highway 22 to 6th Avenue (east of Big Hill Creek).
• Two new bridges on Highway 1A over Big Hill Creek 
• Replacing the Highway 22 CP Rail overpass over Highway 1A with a new larger overpass structure

• New interchange ramps and roundabouts connecting highways 1A and 22 as part of the interchange

  Project website

  View a rendering of the interchange

  Questions?

   Email hwy1a22@islengineering.com

Throughout construction, Cochrane Protective Services are engaged in regular project updates with the contractor and Alberta Transportation to ensure that emergency access is maintained for all communities as public safety is a top priority.

Alberta Transportation updates

October 3, 2025: Upcoming night paving work and detours at the Highway 22/Sunset Blvd intersection.

Sunday, October 5
⏰Overnight, 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.

• Paving work along Hwy 22 and at the Sunset Blvd intersection.

Traffic impacts

• Noise & light: Residents in Sunset Ridge along Hwy 22 will experience increased noise and light from operations.
• Lane shifts: Expect various lane changes on southbound Hwy 22; please drive with care and follow contractor signage.
• No left turns: Overnight on October 6 & 7, left turns in/out of Sunset Blvd will be restricted. U-turn detours will be available further along Hwy 22 (see diagram).
• Flaggers on site: Each U-turn location will have two flaggers assisting, including for large trucks. North–south traffic on Hwy 22 may be stopped briefly to allow safe U-turns.

What you need to know

• Work is scheduled overnight to minimize daytime traffic disruptions.
• Short-term impacts will last three nights.
• All timelines are approximate and weather dependent.
• Please drive with caution and follow traffic control devices.

September 29, 2025: Alberta Transportation has shared an update about upcoming traffic changes at the Highway 1A/22 Interchange. Please see the details below to plan ahead and stay informed.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 – starting at 6 p.m. (approx. 2 hours)

• Highway 22 traffic will be realigned onto the west side of the new Highway 22 bridge, with all traffic moving into the future southbound lanes.

Early October (date dependent on progress):

• Highway 1A traffic will be transferred onto the eastbound side of the road.
• This shift will temporarily restrict left-hand turns out of the Historic Cochrane Ranche parking lot.
• Drivers exiting the Ranche will need to use the nearby roundabout to turn around if they are heading eastbound on Highway 1A.

What you need to know

• These changes mark another step toward substantial completion of the interchange this fall.
• All timelines are approximate and weather dependent.

• Please drive with caution, follow signage and expect short-term adjustments as crews complete this phase.

  
  📞 Project team: 403-472-4408
  📧 Email: hwy1a22@islengineering.com

Cochrane's Traffic Plan 

2024 project board

Description

This project includes the twinning of the existing wastewater line (syphon) to support the needs of West Cochrane, to accommodate future growth and reduce operational concerns of the existing syphon. This project is required due to growth, thus it is funded 100% from off-site levy-funded debt. 

Background

The Cochrane West sanitary syphon is a major piece of infrastructure that conveys wastewater from all development west of Highway 22. Recent flow testing indicates that the capacity of the syphon has been severely reduced since its implementation in the mid-90s. The configuration of a sanitary syphon makes for difficult access for cleaning and system maintenance purposes. 

How does this project benefit the community?

Cochrane continues to prioritize and invest in our infrastructure, ensuring intergenerational equity and planning for the future needs of our growing community. 

Strategic alignment

This project supports Council 2022-2025 Strategic Goals of livability and vibrant economy, and will build financial and environmental stewardship and the built environment. 

We are improving pathway connections through Cochrane to provide more inclusive access between the Historic Ranche, Glenbow and the Bow River. 

This project includes paving nearly 3 km of pathways in Glenbow and the Historic Cochrane Ranche, as well as replacement of four pedestrian bridges in Glenbow park, and new signage throughout the park space.  

About the project

Cochrane is committed to creating a connected community for all ages and abilities to enjoy. In March 2022, Council endorsed an application to purse the Active Transportation Fund as a way to improve access between the Historic Ranche, Glenbow and the Bow River. 

Upon securing the grant approval, our Parks team began to explore Glenbow and the Cochrane Ranche to better to understand what this project might look like.

Through the discovery phase, we identified a pressing need to revitalize the Glenbow bridges. While initially we were considering widening the pathway to 4 metres, Administration recognized that to accommodate this a significant number of trees would need to be removed. As a result, Administration reconsidered the goals of this project and will now be extending the pathway to 3 metres. 

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

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Construction timelines

Summer - Winter 2024 

Project updates

July 9, 2025: For the remainder of the summer, the contractor will focus on site restoration and addressing any remaining deficiencies.

How does this project benefit the community?

Increased community connectivity and care for our open spaces and natural areas.

Strategic alignment

This project supports the 2022-2025 Strategic priority of protecting, nurturing and enjoying our natural landscape, creating a vibrant and active community with connected neighbourhoods and bringing people together physically and socially. 

Have questions about this project?

Email capitalprojects.eng@cochrane.ca