Image from Government of Alberta document showing the realigned path of a widened QEII Highway as it passes Red Deer.

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

public info session july 15

Province wants to double width of QEII Hwy at Red Deer, but would encroach upon sensitive wetlands

Jul 11, 2025 | 1:47 PM

A project to increase vehicle capacity on the QEII Highway as it passes Red Deer would encroach upon the city’s Maskepetoon Park and Heritage Ranch areas, according to government documents.

A public information session is happening at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15 at the iHotel & Conference Centre (6500 67 Street) — notably the same night as the first Alberta Next Panel meeting, also in Red Deer.

The project is slated to provide various improvements to 11 kilometres of the QEII Highway near Red Deer, with the goals being to support enhanced highway capacity and improve safety.

In a document on the Alberta government’s website, put together in part by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors, alongside Associated Engineering and WSP, it lists benefits and downsides.

Among the benefits: increased number of lands to reduce congestion, dedicated lane northbound and southbound for traffic travelling between 32 Street and 67 Street, consistent driving ‘feel’ through the region, creation of a large natural area including multiple ponds and wetlands via conversion of the project’s gravel pit, and accessibility improvements to adjacent river and park areas.

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On the downside: reduced park size, loss of treed areas, loss of wetlands, and disturbance during construction.

The document lists various stakeholders, including the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, CPKC, the City of Red Deer, Heritage Ranch, the neighbourhoods of Oriole Park and Westlake/West Park, Red Deer County, Indigenous, Inuit and Metis groups, Red Deer River Naturalists, the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, and the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society.

Geotechnical drilling and surveying is happening this month and next on the bridges, with Maskepetoon Park to get the same treatment in December and January. CN overpass construction will occur this summer or fall and/or through 2026.

The government notes the bridges over the river will built in the early 1960s.

Further work includes going out to tender this fall, with construction in 2026 and 2027 for the project’s second phase, and then phase three will follow with design in 2025 and 2026, tender in 2026 and construction from 2027 to 2031.

A dollar figure has not been shared.

If residents have questions about this project, email tec.hwy2reddeer@gov.ab.ca.

The document can be read here, and additional information is here.