Highway 22 seems to be turning into a death trap.
Another fatality occurred last week, and from what the preliminary investigation indicates, the conditions of the road were to blame.
At the scene of the accident, snow covered the road, having been blown over from the west, blanketing the highway and creating an extremely dangerous hazard.
There are three main reasons why Highway 22 is becoming a dangerous roadway.
The first is its increased use.
With Cochrane’s ever-increasing population and the Calgary region continuing to swell, highway traffic gets heavier as well.
Highway 22 is the main route for those commuting into south Calgary, whether for work or just to go into the city on the weekend.
Add those going west to Canmore, Banff or B.C., or south to Bragg Creek, and you have one busy highway.
There has been a lot of talk about the need for Highway 8 into Calgary to be twinned, but not much has been said about the 22.
Which brings us to the second reason Highway 22 is becoming more and more dangerous.
Like Highway 8, the 22 is single-lane, which adds to the danger, especially when impatient drivers decide they can no longer wait and attempt to pass a slower-moving vehicle.
The already-mentioned winter weather conditions is the third reason the highway poses a threat to motorists.
Snow, blowing snow, wind — they all contribute to the reason we continue to see accidents on Highway 22.
So, what is the solution?
A good place to start would be to alleviate most of the wind and drifting snow problem by lining the highway with trees.
Not only would this help stop snow from drifting onto the highway — a road that posts a 100 km/hour speed limit — and help ease what seems like a continuous west wind, but it would also be visually appealing.
Another solution is to advocate to the province — a daunting task at the best of times — to have the highway twinned.
The twinning of Highway 1A into Calgary has made that particular journey safer and quicker.
Are there more vehicles travelling Highway 1A than the 22?
If the numbers are relatively the same, then wouldn’t it make sense to twin Highway 22 and not just the 1A?
There is no solution the amount of people who use Highway 22. Governments must react accordingly to the situation at hand, and a growing population is something that cannot be controlled, it must be dealt with as best as possible.
Fifty years ago, a single-lane Highway 22 was just what the area needed, but 2014 poses a different need.
Highway 22 and 8 are two roadways that have grown out of their skin quite quickly, and if they are not going to be dealt with to help alleviate the danger, much like Highway 1A has been, we will continue to read about fatalities for many years to come.
