Bow Trail
Encyclopedia
Bow Trail is a major road in the southwest quadrant of Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
. It lends its name from the Bow River
, which runs through the city north of the road itself. It runs from 85 Street SW to downtown Calgary
, where the traffic is redirected to 9 Avenue SW, on the southern edge of downtown.
Bow Trail, along with 17 Avenue SW
, are two major thoroughfares linking downtown Calgary to the west end of the city. In the late 1960s, there were plans to extend Bow Trail along a more northerly alignment (roughly at the present-day 3 Avenue S) before linking with Memorial Drive
east of downtown. Fierce opposition to freeways running through downtown Calgary scuttled the plans, and the C-Train
came into favour.
. The remainder of the road exists today, as Old Banff Coach Road. East of 33 Street SW and west of Crowchild Trail
, Bow Trail conformed to Calgary's street numbering conventions, and was known as 12 Avenue SW. 12 Avenue SW continues to exist today, as a frontage road
to Bow Trail.
In 2004, the city of Calgary
conducted a traffic volume study along Bow Trail that found the four lane road inadequate. Consequently, an additional westbound lane was added between 33 Street and Sarcee Trail
by 2006. The section between Sarcee Trail and Strathcona Boulevard was widened and landscaped by 2007, while the intersection with Sarcee Trail was improved.
In 2010, construction of the west leg of the C-Train
light rail transit system begun along the Bow Trail between Crowchild Trail and 33 Street West.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It lends its name from the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
, which runs through the city north of the road itself. It runs from 85 Street SW to downtown Calgary
Downtown Calgary
Downtown Calgary is a region of central Calgary, Alberta. It is not a single neighbourhood per se, but is actually a larger community containing three neighbourhoods and a number of districts....
, where the traffic is redirected to 9 Avenue SW, on the southern edge of downtown.
Bow Trail, along with 17 Avenue SW
17 Avenue SW, Calgary
17 Avenue SW is a major east-west arterial road in the south-west quadrant of the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Between the Calgary Stampede Grounds and 14 Street SW, it is a commercial street, with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, which has been designated a Business Revitalization...
, are two major thoroughfares linking downtown Calgary to the west end of the city. In the late 1960s, there were plans to extend Bow Trail along a more northerly alignment (roughly at the present-day 3 Avenue S) before linking with Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Calgary)
Memorial Drive is a major road in Calgary, Alberta. Besides having an important role in city infrastructure, the tree lined sides of Memorial Drive serve as a living testament to the many soldiers who died during World War I and give it a parkway look on the western section...
east of downtown. Fierce opposition to freeways running through downtown Calgary scuttled the plans, and the C-Train
C-Train
C-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
came into favour.
History
Prior to it being named Bow Trail, the road west of 33 Street SW was known as Banff Coach Road. The road was rerouted with westbound expansion, with Bow Trail being rerouted on a more southerly route west of Sarcee TrailSarcee Trail
Sarcee Trail is a major urban arterial road in Calgary, Alberta. It is divided into two portions, one in the north end of the city, and one in the south end of the city. Originally planned as one continuous route, plans to connect the two halves have been shelved...
. The remainder of the road exists today, as Old Banff Coach Road. East of 33 Street SW and west of Crowchild Trail
Crowchild Trail
Crowchild Trail is an expressway located on the west side of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.The road was originally signed as 24th Street SW from North Glenmore Park to the Bow River, 24th Street NW from the Bow to the intersection with 16th Avenue NW , and Highway 1A from 16th Ave NW to the city limits...
, Bow Trail conformed to Calgary's street numbering conventions, and was known as 12 Avenue SW. 12 Avenue SW continues to exist today, as a frontage road
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
to Bow Trail.
In 2004, the city of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
conducted a traffic volume study along Bow Trail that found the four lane road inadequate. Consequently, an additional westbound lane was added between 33 Street and Sarcee Trail
Sarcee Trail
Sarcee Trail is a major urban arterial road in Calgary, Alberta. It is divided into two portions, one in the north end of the city, and one in the south end of the city. Originally planned as one continuous route, plans to connect the two halves have been shelved...
by 2006. The section between Sarcee Trail and Strathcona Boulevard was widened and landscaped by 2007, while the intersection with Sarcee Trail was improved.
In 2010, construction of the west leg of the C-Train
C-Train
C-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
light rail transit system begun along the Bow Trail between Crowchild Trail and 33 Street West.
Route
From west to east, Bow Trail runs through the following intersections| km | Intersection | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 85 Street SW / 12 Avenue SW | 51.05278°N 114.21086°W | |
| 2.0 | Strathcona Boulevard / Old Banff Coach Road | 51.05214°N 114.18194°W | |
| 3.1 | Strathcona Hill | Eastbound exit and entrance only | 51.05364°N 114.16694°W |
| 3.4 | Sarcee Trail Sarcee Trail Sarcee Trail is a major urban arterial road in Calgary, Alberta. It is divided into two portions, one in the north end of the city, and one in the south end of the city. Originally planned as one continuous route, plans to connect the two halves have been shelved... |
51.05231°N 114.16417°W | |
| 4.1 | 46 Street SW | Southbound only | 51.04913°N 114.15400°W |
| 4.2 | 45 Street SW | 51.04883°N 114.15271°W | |
| 4.5 | Rossmere Road / 42 Street SW | 51.04705°N 114.14690°W | |
| 4.7 | 40 Street SW | Eastbound exit and entrance only | 51.04630°N 114.14452°W |
| 5.0 | 38 Street SW | Northbound only | 51.04591°N 114.14331°W |
| 5.2 | 8 Avenue SW / 37 Street SW | 51.04493°N 114.14113°W | |
| 5.3 | 36 Street SW | Westbound exit and entrance only | 51.04463°N 114.13971°W |
| 5.6 | 11 Avenue SW | Westbound exit and entrance only | 51.04235°N 114.13795°W |
| 5.8 | 33 Street SW | 51.04141°N 114.13542°W | |
| 6.2 | 29 Street SW | Southbound only | 51.04149°N 114.12952°W |
| 6.6 | 26 Street SW / 12 Avenue SW | 51.04149°N 114.12366°W | |
| 7.0 | 24 Street SW | Westbound exit and entrance to northbound 24 Street, Eastbound exit and entrance to southbound 24 Street | 51.04160°N 114.11781°W |
| 7.5 | Crowchild Trail Crowchild Trail Crowchild Trail is an expressway located on the west side of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.The road was originally signed as 24th Street SW from North Glenmore Park to the Bow River, 24th Street NW from the Bow to the intersection with 16th Avenue NW , and Highway 1A from 16th Ave NW to the city limits... |
No Eastbound exit | 51.04300°N 114.11224°W |
| 7.8 | 10 Avenue SW | Eastbound exit and Westbound entrance | 51.04454°N 114.10804°W |
| 8.9 | 14 Street SW | 51.04622°N 114.09473°W | |
| 9.0 | 9 Avenue SW / Pumphouse Avenue / 16 Street SW | 51.04626°N 114.09247°W |