Highway 22 marker Highway 22 marker

Highway 22

Cowboy Trail
Highway 22 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Alberta Ministry of Transportation
Length574 km (357 mi)
Major junctions
South end Hwy 3 near Lundbreck
Major intersections
North end Hwy 18 near Mayerthorpe
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Specialized and rural municipalitiesPincher Creek No. 9 M.D., Ranchland No. 26 M.D., Foothills County, Rocky View County, Mountain View County, Clearwater County, Wetaskiwin No. 10 County, Brazeau County, Parkland County, Yellowhead County, Lac Ste. Anne County
TownsDiamond Valley, Cochrane, Sundre, Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley, Mayerthorpe
VillagesLongview, Cremona, Caroline
Highway system
    ← Hwy 21→ Hwy 22X

    Alberta Provincial Highway No. 22, commonly referred to as Highway 22 and officially named Cowboy Trail, is a 584-kilometre (363 mi) highway in the Canadian province of Alberta. It generally parallels Highway 2, beginning in the foothills of southern Alberta at Highway 3 near Lundbreck Falls. It proceeds north along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains passing through the foothills and ranch country to the aspen parkland of northern Alberta, ending at Highway 18 near Mayerthorpe.

    Cowboy Trail continues south and east of Highway 22 by following Highway 3 to Pincher Creek, Highway 6 to Waterton Lakes National Park, and Highway 5 to Cardston.[1]

    Alberta Transportation is currently constructing a new interchange at the over-saturated intersection of Highways 22 and 1A in Cochrane.[2] There are also long-term plans for twinning from Bragg Creek to the north end of Cochrane, and the implementation of passing lanes near the highway's south end.

    Route description

    Southbound Highway 22, north of Sundre

    Highway 22 begins as a two-lane rural highway in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 near Lundbreck Falls at Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. It proceeds north across increasingly flatter terrain of the foothills, parallel to the Oldman River, and then crosses it before entering the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66. The highway winds to the east of the Black Heritage Rangeland Natural Area, intersecting Highway 520 which branches east to meet Highway 2 at Claresholm. Highway 22 continues north through scenic terrain to the Chain Lakes Reservoir, from which Highway 533 splits east to meet Highway 2 at Nanton. The highway continues north through Longview, Diamond Valley (made up of the former twin towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley), and Millarville. The highway then jogs west at Highway 22X. Approximately 30 km (19 mi) later, the road turns north again and passes through Bragg Creek where Highway 22X ends. Highway 22 continues north past the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) west of Calgary, north through the Town of Cochrane, the Hamlet of Cochrane Lake, and the Village of Cremona to Highway 27.[3]

    The highway continues in a generally northward direction (with a number of westward jogs), passing through Sundre, Caroline, Rocky Mountain House and Drayton Valley until it intersects Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) at Entwistle approximately 85 km (53 mi) west of Edmonton).[4] After a 8 km (5 mi) jog to the west, it continues north to cross Highway 43 in Mayerthorpe, ending 7 km (4 mi) north of the town at Highway 18.[4]

    History

    The original alignment of Highway 22 started at Highway 2 (Macleod Trail) south of Calgary and travelled west to Priddis, where it turned south to Turner Valley and terminated at Highway 7 in Black Diamond.[5] In the 1970s, the province of Alberta began upgrading a series of roads to form a north-south, all-weather highway west of Highway 2. Beginning in c. 1972, the road connecting the Trans-Canada Highway and Cochrane was designated as part of Highway 22.[6] In c. 1973, the numbered secondary highway system appeared, with the road between Cochrane and Highway 27 being designated as Highway 922 (the paved section between Cremona and Bottrel became Highway 22) while the road between Priddis and Bragg Creek was briefly designated as Highway 553,[7] becoming Highway 922 in 1975.[8] Throughout the remainder of the 1970s, Highway 922 was extended from Highway 3 in the south to Highway 57 near Drayton Valley in the north.[8] Coinciding with Highway 922 being paved in c. 1976, Highway 22 was extended from Cochrane to Cremona,[9] while the following year it replaced Highway 922 between the Trans-Canada Highway and Priddis; as part of the project, the section between Priddis and Macleod Trail was renumbered as Highway 22X.[10] In c. 1980, all remaining gravel sections of Highway 922 were reclassified as Highway 22, along with a 18 km (11 mi) section of Highway 7 between Black Diamond and Longview, a 56 km (35 mi) section of Highway 57 between Drayton Valley and Entwistle (the remaining 27 km (17 mi) section of Highway 57 became part of Highway 39) and Highway 755 between Highway 16 and Mayerthorpe.[11] Throughout the 1980s, Highway 22 was paved, with all but a small section near Chain Lakes Provincial Park being completed by 1990 (the latter was completed in the mid-1990s).[12][13]

    In 2014, a new $52 million bridge across the North Saskatchewan River near Drayton Valley was completed,[14] replacing the original bridge which was constructed in 1957.[15]

    Future

    Alberta Transportation retained Tetra Tech EBA to complete a study in the feasibility of new passing lanes over a 118 km (73 mi) distance of Highway 22 between Highways 3 and 543.[16] The study was published in August 2011 and determined that passing lanes are justified at several locations, but Alberta Transportation currently has no plans to proceed with the project.[16] In April 2017, Alberta Transportation announced plans for a new interchange at Highway 1A in Cochrane, with the selection of an engineering consultant taking place during the summer and the anticipated start of construction beginning as early as Fall 2019.[17][18] As part of a separate project, Alberta Transportation completed a long-term study to twin Highway 22 between Cochrane and Highway 8, including replacing the cloverleaf interchange at Highway 1; no timeline has been set for construction.[19]

    Major intersections

    From south to north:[20]

    Rural/specialized municipalityLocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
    M.D. of Pincher Creek No. 9Lundbreck0.00.0 Hwy 3 – Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Crowsnest Pass
    ​24.215.0Crosses Oldman River
    M.D. of Ranchland No. 66​44.427.6 Hwy 520 east – Claresholm, Barons
    Chain Lakes
    Provincial Park    		71.344.3 Hwy 533 east / PAR 152 west – Nanton
    ​82.251.1 Hwy 532 west – Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park
    Foothills CountyBar U Ranch N.H.S.96.560.0 Hwy 540 east – Pekisko, Cayley
    Longview109.167.8Crosses the Highwood River
    110.568.7 Hwy 541 west – Kananaskis Country
    ​117.973.3 Hwy 543 east – High River
    Diamond Valley127.679.3 Hwy 7 east – OkotoksHwy 22 branches west; formerly Black Diamond
    128.479.8Crosses the Sheep River
    131.681.8 Hwy 546 west – Sheep River Provincial ParkHwy 22 branches north; formerly Turner Valley
    Millarville142.988.8 Hwy 549 westSouth end of Hwy 549 concurrency
    ​146.190.8 Hwy 549 east – OkotoksNorth end of Hwy 549 concurrency
    Priddis159.198.9 Hwy 22X east – CalgaryHwy 22 branches west
    ​175.9109.3 Hwy 762 south – Millarville
    ↑ / ↓​176.2109.5 Hwy 66 west – Elbow FallsHwy 22 branches north
    Rocky View CountyBragg Creek179.6111.6 Hwy 758 south – Bragg Creek Provincial Park
    Tsuu T'ina Nation No. 145Redwood Meadows185.3115.1Redwood Meadows Drive
    Rocky View County​190.2118.2 Hwy 8 east – CalgaryRoundabout
    191.3118.9Crosses the Elbow River
    197.3122.6 Hwy 1 (TCH) – Calgary, BanffInterchange; Hwy 1 exit 161
    Cochrane208.3129.4Crosses the Bow River
    210.1130.6 Hwy 1A (Bow Valley Trail) – Calgary, CanmoreInterchange proposed[17]
    ​218.5135.8 Hwy 567 east – AirdrieRoundabout
    Bottrel234.9146.0 Hwy 574 east – Madden, Crossfield
    Mountain View County​245.4152.5 Hwy 579 west – Water Valley
    Cremona250.0155.3 Hwy 580 east – Carstairs
    ​265.3164.8 Hwy 582 east – Didsbury
    277.2172.2 Hwy 27 east – OldsHwy 22 branches west; south end of Hwy 27 concurrency
    Westward Ho278.9173.3Crosses the Little Red Deer River
    Sundre287.3178.5 Hwy 760 south – Bergen
    287.6178.7Crosses the Red Deer River
    289.6179.9 Hwy 584 west – BearberryHwy 22 branches north; north end of Hwy 27 concurrency
    ↑ / ↓​304.1189.0Crosses the James River
    Clearwater CountyJames River Bridge306.0190.1 Hwy 587 east – Bowden
    ​323.1200.8 Hwy 54 east – InnisfailHwy 22 branches west; south end of Hwy 54 concurrency
    Caroline328.0203.850 Street
    ​335.9208.7Crosses the Clearwater River
    336.1208.8 Hwy 591 west – RicinusHwy 22 branches north; north end of Hwy 54 concurrency
    353.9219.9Crosses the Clearwater River
    361.2224.4 Hwy 11 east – Red DeerHwy 22 branches west; south end of Hwy 11 concurrency
    Rocky Mountain House366.2227.5 Township Road 392 to Hwy 752 south
    369.6229.7 Hwy 11A west / Hwy 598 east (52 Avenue) – LeslievilleAccess to Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site
    373.1231.8 Hwy 11 west – Nordegg, Saskatchewan River CrossingHwy 22 branches north; north end of Hwy 11 concurrency
    ​379.8236.0 Hwy 12 east – Lacombe
    406.5252.6 Hwy 53 east – Rimbey, Ponoka
    County of Wetaskiwin No. 10​433.4269.3 Hwy 13 – Alder Flats, Wetaskiwin
    Brazeau County​452.9281.4 Hwy 616 – Buck Creek, Breton
    464.6288.7 Hwy 39 east – LeducHwy 22 branches west
    470.0292.0Crosses the North Saskatchewan River
    Drayton Valley474.0294.550 Street
    475.1295.2 Hwy 620 west – Lodgepole, Brazeau ReservoirHwy 22 turns north
    478.3297.250 Avenue
    Rocky Rapids485.2301.5 Hwy 621 west – Cynthia
    ↑ / ↓​494.9307.5 Hwy 624 east – Tomahawk
    Parkland CountyEntwistle519.9323.1 Hwy 16 (TCH/YH) east – Edmonton
    Hwy 16A west – Entwistle    		Interchange; Hwy 16 exit 289; Hwy 22 branches west; south end of Hwy 16 concurrency
    ↑ / ↓↑ / ↓520.9323.7Crosses the Pembina River
    Yellowhead CountyEvansburg522.1324.4UAR 115 north
    ​527.8328.0 Hwy 16 (TCH/YH) west – JasperHwy 22 branches north; north end of Hwy 16 concurrency
    528.5328.4 Hwy 16A – Wildwood, Evansburg
    Lac Ste. Anne County​561.1348.7 Hwy 647 west – Anselmo
    Mayerthorpe567.3352.5 Hwy 43 – Whitecourt, Grande Prairie, Edmonton
    ​574.3356.9 Hwy 18 – Green Court, Barrhead
    1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

    References

    1. ↑ "Cowboy Trail Map". The Cowboy Trail. The Cowboy Trail Tourism Association. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
    2. ↑ Alberta, Government of. "Highway 1A / Highway 22 Interchange". majorprojects.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
    3. ↑ "2015 Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
    4. 1 2 Google (2017-12-05). "Highway 22 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
    5. ↑ Department of Highways (1960). Alberta Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    6. ↑ Travel Alberta (1972). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    7. ↑ Travel Alberta (1974). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    8. 1 2 Travel Alberta (1975). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    9. ↑ Travel Alberta (1976). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    10. ↑ Travel Alberta (1978–1979). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    11. ↑ Travel Alberta (1980–1981). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    12. ↑ Travel Alberta (1990). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    13. ↑ Travel Alberta (1995). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). The Province of Alberta.
    14. ↑ "Bridge Open to Traffic". Big West Country. June 10, 2015. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
    15. ↑ "Transportation Infrastructure Management System - Existing Structures in the Provincial Highway Corridor" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. September 28, 2012. p. 108. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
    16. 1 2 Tetra Tech EBA (August 2011). "Highway 22:06 to Highway 22:12 Climbing and Passing Lane Study - Highway 3 to Highway 543" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
    17. 1 2 "Cochrane Interchange". Alberta Transportation. Government of Alberta. 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
    18. ↑ Tucker, Erika (2017-04-07). "Alberta government announces plans for Town of Cochrane interchange". Global News. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
    19. ↑ ISL Engineering and Land Services (March 2014). Highway 22 Functional Planning Study: South of Highway 8 to Town of Cochrane South Corporate Limits (PDF). Alberta Transportation (Report). Retrieved 2017-09-24.
    20. ↑ Alberta Road Atlas (2005 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. pp. 55, 63, 69, 70, 75, 76, 82.
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