Mayor Magrath Drive
Encyclopedia
Mayor Magrath Drive is the busiest north-south roadway and the second busiest roadway overall in Lethbridge
, Alberta
. In 2005, it saw roughly 34,000 vehicles per day in weekday traffic. Most retail and hospitality establishments in the city are concentrated on this roadway, and it serves as a major transportation corridor for the city and region.
line from Lethbridge to Fort Macleod
that was abandoned when the High Level Bridge
was constructed in 1909. Until the 1920s, the rural, gravel roadway was known as Sunshine Trail.
In 1946, Sunshine Trail was paved with asphalt
for the first time. The following year, it was renamed Mayor Magrath Drive after Charles A. Magrath
, the first mayor of Lethbridge.
The roadway was expanded to four lanes in 1963. This expansion also included a system of service roads and connecting avenues to provide access to future commercial and residential development. Between 2001–2004, the overburdened road was expanded to six lanes.
, 4 and 5) meet with the roadway, much of this traffic includes out-of-town tourists, commuters and truckers.
In addition, given the development of large-scale retail stores in the south end of the city, many shoppers use Mayor Magrath Drive.
Henderson Park
borders on Mayor Magrath Drive and contains a golf course, the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
, and Henderson Lake, the largest urban lake in the city.
. It connects highways leading directly to the United States, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan
. It holds several public transit routes
, including the popular Link, which provides service between the Lethbridge College and Northside terminals. At the city limits Mayor Magrath Drive turns into Highway 5, which then continues to the Lethbridge County Airport
.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, 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...
. In 2005, it saw roughly 34,000 vehicles per day in weekday traffic. Most retail and hospitality establishments in the city are concentrated on this roadway, and it serves as a major transportation corridor for the city and region.
History
Mayor Magrath Drive was built on an Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
line from Lethbridge to Fort Macleod
Fort Macleod, Alberta
Fort Macleod is a town in the southwest corner of the province of Alberta, Canada. It was founded as a North-West Mounted Police barracks, and is named in honour of the North-West Mounted Police Colonel James Macleod. The town's current mayor is Shawn Patience.- History and heritage preservation...
that was abandoned when the High Level Bridge
Lethbridge Viaduct
The Lethbridge Viaduct, commonly known as the High Level Bridge, was constructed between 1907–1909 at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada at a cost of $1,334,525.- Overview :...
was constructed in 1909. Until the 1920s, the rural, gravel roadway was known as Sunshine Trail.
In 1946, Sunshine Trail was paved with asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
for the first time. The following year, it was renamed Mayor Magrath Drive after Charles A. Magrath
Charles Alexander Magrath
Charles Alexander Magrath conducted foundation surveys of the Northwest Territories from 1878 until 1885. He joined Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt and Elliot Torrance Galt in their western industrial enterprises as a surveyor, later becoming Elliott's assistant and Land Commissioner of the North...
, the first mayor of Lethbridge.
The roadway was expanded to four lanes in 1963. This expansion also included a system of service roads and connecting avenues to provide access to future commercial and residential development. Between 2001–2004, the overburdened road was expanded to six lanes.
Traffic
In 2005, weekday traffic on Mayor Magrath Drive was recorded at 32,000 vehicles per day.. Given that three provincial highways (3Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
, 4 and 5) meet with the roadway, much of this traffic includes out-of-town tourists, commuters and truckers.
In addition, given the development of large-scale retail stores in the south end of the city, many shoppers use Mayor Magrath Drive.
Amenities
Mayor Magrath Drive holds the bulk of the city's accommodations, including international chains such as Ramada, Best Western, Travelodge and Howard Johnson. Major shopping destinations (such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Superstore, Safeway and Home Depot) are also located on this roadway, as well as a large number of restaurants.Henderson Park
Henderson Park (Lethbridge)
Henderson Park is a 47 hectare located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The park contains many amenities and attractions, including a 24 hectare man-made lake, the largest lake in the city...
borders on Mayor Magrath Drive and contains a golf course, the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a garden near Henderson Lake in Lethbridge, Alberta, designed by Dr. Tadashi Kubo of Osaka Prefecture University in Japan. The pavilion, shelter, bridges and gates were built in Japan by artisans who later reassembled them in the garden...
, and Henderson Lake, the largest urban lake in the city.
Transportation
Mayor Magrath Drive is central to transportation in LethbridgeTransportation in Lethbridge
There are many forms of transportation in Lethbridge, Alberta, including highways and public transit. Lethbridge's airport is Lethbridge County Airport , which is a short drive south of the city boundary...
. It connects highways leading directly to the United States, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. It holds several public transit routes
Lethbridge Transit
Lethbridge Transit manages and operates the municipally-owned public transportation system in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.-History:...
, including the popular Link, which provides service between the Lethbridge College and Northside terminals. At the city limits Mayor Magrath Drive turns into Highway 5, which then continues to the Lethbridge County Airport
Lethbridge County Airport
Lethbridge County Airport or Lethbridge Airport, , is located south southeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It is 10-15 driving minutes from the downtown area and has scheduled service to the Alberta cities of Calgary and Edmonton. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA...
.