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(Town of Ponoka)
Heads Up Motorists

Traffic disruptions expected in Ponoka July 25 as Pope visits Maskwacis

Jul 22, 2022 | 5:44 PM

The Town of Ponoka is advising residents that local motorists will experience temporary traffic disruptions on Monday, July 25 due to the upcoming visit by Pope Francis to Maskwacis.

Town officials say this free, ticketed event is for Indigenous Peoples, residential school or day school survivors, their families and those accompanying them for support.

The provincial government will be establishing park-and-ride sites in Ponoka to help accommodate visitors travelling to Maskwacis on July 25.

The park-and-ride sites will be set up at the Ponoka Stampede Grounds and Ponoka Arena Complex parking lot. Transportation to and from the park-and-ride sites is expected to begin as early as 5 a.m.

Motorists can expect significant delays and parking restrictions along the following roadways on July 25 due to increased traffic and park-and-ride buses:

  • Highway 53 between Highway 2A and 54 Street;
  • 54 Street between Highway 53 and 45 Avenue Crescent;
  • 45 Avenue Crescent between Highway 53 and 54 Street;
  • 48 Avenue between Highway 2A and 55 Street;
  • 55 Street between 48 Avenue and 45 Avenue Crescent;
  • 39 Avenue;
  • 62 Street between 39 Avenue and 44 Avenue;
  • 44 Avenue between 62 Street and Highway 2A;
  • 42 Avenue between Highway 2A and 62 Street; and
  • Highway 2A between the Calnash Ag Event Centre at the south end of town and the Town of Ponoka corporate boundaries at the north end of town.

Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic flows on July 25. Motorists are asked to please drive with caution and watch for pedestrians, traffic safety personnel, road signs and barricades.

Highway 2A Will Be Closed Temporarily North of Town

Highway 2A will be temporarily closed throughout the day between the Town of Ponoka corporate boundary at the north end of town and Maskwacis. No vehicles (other than designated park-and-ride buses and official group buses) will be allowed at Maskwacis.

QEII Rolling Road Closures

Short duration rolling road closures are scheduled for sections of the QEII on July 25. “Rolling road closures” means that a short duration closure will be in place to accommodate the Pope’s motorcade and the roadway will reopen soon after the motorcade passes by. Motorists can expect delays and should plan ahead and consider alternate routes where possible.

On July 24, the northbound QEII between Edmonton International Airport and Edmonton will have a rolling road closure in the morning for the Pope’s arrival. On July 25, the southbound QEII between Edmonton and Maskwacis will have a rolling road closure in the morning as the Pope travels to Maskwacis. The northbound QEII between Maskwacis and Edmonton will have a rolling road closure later in the afternoon when the Pope returns to Edmonton.

Travellers can also expect rolling closures from the QEII to east of Powerline Road and a full road closure east of Powerline Road to Highway 2A along Highway 611, west of Highway 2A.

Up-to-date information on traffic impacts during the papal visit will be also be posted on 511 Alberta:

  • Call toll-free: 511 (in Alberta) or 1-855-391-9743 (outside Alberta)
  • Visit www.511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts
  • Follow on Twitter at @511Alberta for more information about the papal visit and future updates, please see:
  • Walking Together Pope Francis in Canada website: www.papalvisit.ca/schedule/meeting-with-indigenous-peoples-maskwacis/; and
  • Alberta Government website: www.alberta.ca/pope-francis-visit.aspx.