COUGAR CREEK UNDERPASS

Vision

A pedestrian crossing of the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) at Cougar Creek had been under consideration for several years to provide a safe pedestrian route between the Cougar Creek area and Bow Valley Trail.

In early April 2010, M.P. Blake Richards, on behalf of the Honorable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced $3 million in support from the Government of Canada to develop a pedestrian underpass in Canmore.  The funding was provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.  The Town of Canmore also contributed $1.5 million towards this $4.5 million project.

Background

The Trans-Canada Highway has been a major barrier between the communities east of the highway and the Town Centre to the west. Over 5000 residents in these communities were serviced by only one pedestrian crossing of the highway at Benchlands Trail. The 2006 Transportation Master Plan Update noted the propensity for unauthorized and unsafe at-grade crossing of the Trans Canada Highway from these communities and indicated that a grade separated crossing should be considered to provide adequate trail network connectivity. The 2007 Trails Master Plan echoed these statements, recommending construction of a pedestrian crossing of the Trans Canada Highway south of the Benchlands Trail overpass.

In January of 2009, in response to the economic downturn, the Federal Government announced an infrastructure stimulus program for the country. One part of this program is the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF). The Town of Canmore submitted an application to the CAF for a Pedestrian Crossing (underpass) of the Trans Canada Highway at Cougar Creek, with an anticipated total project cost of $4.5 Million.

Building Bridges

The Town worked with a consulting team lead by Associated Engineering to complete the project in just over a year. The team sought to design the underpass specifically for providing multi-use, non-motorized modes of transportation but also allow for vehicles such as snow removal equipment. The structure would include a hard surfaced pathway width suitable for two-way traffic by cyclists, hikers, joggers, roller bladders, roller skiers, wheelchair and other users. The underpass and connecting trails would be lit to provide a comfortable, safe experience for users.

The goal was to develop an underpass design with a look and feel consistent with Canmore’s contemporary mountain community, be fully functional in its location under the highway, and fit architecturally and aesthetically within the natural environment of the Bow Valley. Already the underpass has become a popular and vital link from Town Centre to residential communities and recreational trails in the area including the Legacy Trail connecting Canmore Banff and Lake Louise. All aspects of the underpass including, trails, lighting and landscaping were designed to entice users and visitors. An added attraction to the site was the creation Canmore’s latest piece of public art, “Portal XII”, by local artist Lucie Bause.

The ambitious schedule and hard work that started in April of 2010 with only rough preliminary concepts, was realized at the official ribbon cutting on June 27, 2011. Construction was performed over a twelve month period by a team of regional and local contractors and suppliers including Graham Infrastructure and Downer Contracting. To create the pedestrian connection two bridge structures were constructed on the Trans-Canada Highway, one for westbound and one for eastbound vehicle traffic. Thanks to the 14m bridge spans the pedestrian underpass below is bright, open, and inviting. Further contributing to the welcoming appearance and feel is the extensive landscaping, rock work, and the lit multi-use pathways. Multiple informal seating areas create comfortable nodes where residents and visitors can gather or rest amongst expansive views. At the circular plaza on the east side of the underpass a plaque can be found celebrating the opening of the underpass and acknowledging our active community with a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche.

“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.”

If you would like to visit the Cougar Creek Underpass or Portal XII to the west of it, the location and pathways that provide access are shown here toward the lower right hand corner of the map and labeled “Highway underpass (open 2011)”.

For further information regarding this project, please contact Jacob Johnson, C.E.T., at (403) 678-1549 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .