City officials say they’re taking steps to limit traffic headaches as Calgary enters its busiest construction months — a time when critical infrastructure work often clashes with high commuter volumes. As part of its efforts, the city has launched a centralized web page consolidating traffic data, construction updates, live drive times and camera feeds. Officials are asking Calgarians to use the tool to plan ahead and stay informed. With only a narrow window between spring and fall to carry out repairs and upgrades, the city says it aims to minimize delays while completing necessary projects across its transportation and utility networks. Calgary’s transportation network accommodates an average of 5.5 million trips each weekday — including commutes to work, school drop-offs, errands and trips to events — and officials say maintaining that flow is a top priority. Anthony El-Araj, acting manager of traffic services, said the city puts people first when planning road work and closures. “We plan around people, not just projects,” he said. “Before any work happens on our roadways, we go through a detailed process to make sure we’re minimizing disruption as much as possible,” he added. “We review where, what and why the work is happening, and look for ways to reduce the impact, whether that means limiting lane closures, changing the timing or asking crews to work overnight, when possible.” Among the factors considered are who uses the route — whether by vehicle, on foot or by bike — as well as access for emergency services, impacts on nearby homes and businesses, and major public events like the Calgary Stampede. “We schedule work to avoid peak travel times as much as possible,” said El-Araj. “Fewer people are on the roads in the evenings and on weekends, so that’s when we try to schedule the work.” The city’s traffic management centre operates 24/7, using cameras, live data and digital signage to monitor road conditions. If traffic stalls due to a collision or disabled vehicle, staff can quickly dispatch a tow truck. In high-traffic areas like the Saddledome, the city made more than 2,200 traffic signal adjustments in 2024 alone. “We can log into an intersection remotely to improve signal timing during rush hour or events,” El-Araj said. “And when we adjust timing in areas with bike lanes or shared pathways, we always prioritize safety for people walking and wheeling.” The city is also encouraging drivers to use the Waze navigation app, which syncs with Calgary’s traffic system to deliver real-time alerts about construction and road closures. The new traffic information hub is available at calgary.ca/PlanYourTrip.
