The City of Calgary is planning to experiment with lane reversals in downtown to help ease rush-hour traffic problems.

Starting next spring, lane controls will be used to introduce reverse traffic flows. It will allow traffic on the Louise Bridge to turn east onto Fourth Avenue during the morning rush and switch two eastbound lanes on Fifth Avenue to westbound traffic during the evening rush hour.

Roads director Troy McLeod says the change will boost the capacity of the road network to move more vehicles and ease congestion on other streets.

McLeod said the project was a low-cost project with a high benefit.

“The advantage is to try and make use of the existing infrastructure because capital programs to build new facilities is just extremely expensive,” he said.

Watch a video of the proposed lane changes below. On mobile? Click here.

Costs to come from existing fund

McLeod said the changes will also help buses spend less time stuck in rush-hour traffic and help reduce emissions, as vehicles will be moving quicker.

Peak-hour lane reversals have already proven successful on roads heading into downtown like Memorial Drive, Centre Street and 10th Street. This project would mark the first time this strategy would be used in Calgary’s downtown core.

Ward 8 Coun. Evan Woolley said funding for the project will come out of an existing fund that is specific for traffic optimization and the cost is exponentially lower than trying to build new infrastructure into downtown.

"To build three lanes of new traffic to get in to downtown, (would cost) say $100 million to build a bridge," said Woolley. "This cost of this optimization in these lane reversals, about $300,000 to $400,000."