The City of Saskatoon developed a plan, Imagine Idylwyld, to transform Idylwyld Drive, an existing inner core arterial highway. Over a century of use and continual modification of this highway-class route had left its mark on the city. Idylwyld Drive acts as a physical divide between the downtown core and the Riversdale and Caswell Hill neighbourhoods to the west. The City wanted to improve the function, safety, and connectivity of the roadway between 20th Street and 25th Street to harmonize the public realm, adjacent land uses, and the transportation needs on Idylwyld Drive.
The City of Saskatoon retained HOK, Inc. (the prime consultant) and Associated Engineering to complete an integrated land use/transportation corridor planning study. Associated Engineering completed transportation engineering, traffic analysis, design, and estimating, while HOK completed the integrated land-use planning and urban design components. The team worked in collaboration with the City of Saskatoon Land-Use Planning and Transportation Divisions to develop a Complete Street Concept for the Idylwyld Corridor.
Associated Engineering used advanced traffic analysis and modelling to create a transportation design. The traffic model simulation and animation fly-through software enabled the team to visualize, present, analyze and discuss multiple scenarios. The preferred solution removes a driving lane to accommodate a protected cycle path and wider sidewalks. The innovative plan cleverly uses less street space to improve traffic flow and conditions for all users, and achieves the City’s goals for land use and transportation.
Engineering, art, landscaping, signage, and lighting will combine to transform Idylwyld Drive into a safer, inviting, sustainable streetscape that connects and blends into adjacent neighbourhoods. Vice President, Transportation Planning & Traffic Engineering, Bryan Petzold, tells us, “Reducing the road surface footprint provides more efficient traffic signal progression, allows wider sidewalks for pedestrians, and accommodates cycle tracks along and across Idylwyld Drive.”
Streetscape design and clever use of street space will improve traffic flow
Active transportation infrastructure and integration of future land use re-zoning will reduce the overall carbon footprint in Saskatoon and provide revitalization development opportunities in downtown Saskatoon. The City intends to proceed to the next phase of design for this project.
Key personnel involved in the project include Bryan Petzold, Monique Beaudry (Kealey), Brennan Krowchenko, and Adam Molyneaux.