Division Avenue South Rehabilitation

The City of Medicine Hat has rebuilt Division Avenue S to address degrading subsurface condition. During this necessary reconstruction, the new road design was made accessible and usable for all types of transportation, and for people of all ages and abilities.

Project status update

As of end-of-day on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Division Avenue South reopened to motorists, as the road construction portion in the final stage of this project is now complete. No further traffic restrictions are required as part of this project.

The final stage of work remaining in the project includes the continuation of trail rehabilitation down Old Cemetery Road Hill. This rehabilitation work will begin where work concluded in 2024, and will connect up to the intersection at College Avenue SE. This work is set to tentatively begin the week of July 7 to not disrupt Canada Day festivities in Kin Coulee and at the Inland Skate Park.

Total schedule

Phase Description Status
Work Zone 1 3 Street SE to 6 Street SE Complete
Work Zone 2 Stage 1: Old Cemetery Road to 12 Street SE Complete
  Stage 2: 6 Street SE to 7 Street SE Complete
Work Zone 3 Stage 1: 7 Street SE to 10 Street SE Complete
  Stage 2: Trail rehabilitation (no road closure)
Trail from Old Cemetery Road to College Avenue		 Expected completion Fall 2025
Work Zone 4 Stage 1: 12 Street SE to 11 Street SE Complete
  Stage 2: 11 Street SE to 10 Street SE Complete

 

View project status map View multi-use trail rehab location

Project enhancements

Pavement Renewal: This infrastructure rehabilitation project was an important part of the City’s asset management strategy, which is aimed at providing a safe environment and high quality of life to residents, while supporting economic development.

Underground Utilities: We've upgraded the pipes and cables under the road, bringing them up to the latest standards and regulations.

Complete Streets* Design: We've updated road crossings to fit with the ‘Complete Streets’ principles. This means roads will be safer and easier for everyone, whether you're walking, biking, driving, or taking the bus.

Continuous Pathways at Crossings: We've created uninterrupted walkways at intersections, making it safer for everyone who uses the multi-use pathway (MUP).

Safer Intersections: We've changed the design of intersections to slow down traffic, making it safer for people of all ages and abilities to cross the street.

Traffic Lights: We've made changes to intersections with traffic lights and upgraded crosswalk lights.

Landscaping: We’ve added greenery and aesthetically pleasing landscaping to make the area look and feel better.

Benefits

Upon completion, this project will provide a renewed pavement surface, upgraded corridor based on the principles of ‘Complete Streets’—a progressive approach meant for everyone. Complete Streets are designed to build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable community. By equally accommodating pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, Complete Streets ensure safer travel for everyone and encourage healthier lifestyles through walking and cycling.

Additionally, this approach reduces environmental impact by cutting down vehicle emissions, and it boosts local economies by enhancing accessibility to businesses and services. Complete Streets are more than just a transportation upgrade - they are a commitment to strengthening community bonds, beautifying urban landscapes, easing traffic flow, and providing a variety of transportation choices. This is not just a road redesign; it's a step towards a more connected, resilient, and vibrant community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete Streets are for everyone.

Complete Streets is an approach to planning, designing, building, operating, and maintaining streets that enables safe access for all people who need to use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

Learn more at Complete Streets for Canada.

City of Edmonton - Industry Example

Division Avenue S has always been a roadway with two dedicated travel lanes. The Division Avenue S driving lanes are still industry standard widths. Prior to construction, sections of Division Avenue S did permit parking, which was under utilized.

We recognize that what was done previously does not meet the needs of the community today – a roadway that is safer and easier for everyone, whether you're walking, biking, driving, or taking the bus. Throughout the corridor we are creating uninterrupted walkways at intersections, making it safer for everyone who uses the multi-use pathway.

Division Avenue S was not intended to have a similar purpose and design to roads like Maple Avenue, Southridge Drive and Dunmore Road for example.

With several schools, parks, and commercial areas in the vicinity, the Complete Streets principles create a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-vehicle users, and motorists alike.

“Bump outs” are the new curbs on side streets with varying widths and design, depending on the street. They were created to slow motorists down as they approach Division Avenue S. This is a form of traffic calming that will promote traffic safety as vehicles approach Division Avenue S. It also reduces the crossing distance, making it safer for people of all ages and abilities to cross the street. These lanes are still industry standard widths.

During the winter months, snow will be piled on the concrete between the pedestrian pathway and Division Avenue S, which will maintain the travel lane widths.

The elements of the Complete Street design are the only traffic calming measures on Division Avenue S. For other traffic calming measures in Medicine Hat and their locations, visit medicinehat.ca/trafficcalming.

Division Ave S contains critical underground infrastructure which needed to be protected and left in service for the duration of the project. With this, extreme caution had to be taken when rebuilding this roadway. This, paired with weather-related events, added delays to the anticipated project timeline.

During the design phase of the project, vehicle turning was assessed using passenger vehicles, emergency vehicles as well as buses. It is not typical for a design of a roadway to be based off vehicles not considered the primary users of the road.

Intersections where larger vehicles like school buses are the most frequent user, and are known to turn, will be designed and built to meet their turning requirements.

  1. In-person meetings with businesses, school districts, churches, and other stakeholders during the design phase

  2. Presentation of the preliminary design at the City’s open house-style Municipal Mingle event in February 2024

  3. Presentation of the detailed layout, project schedule, and phasing at another Municipal Mingle event in May 2024

  4. Development of an animated fly-through to visualize the project at completion

  5. Creation of this dedicated, regularly updated project webpage

  6. Installation of two large signboards with a QR code linking to the project webpage, displayed in project area several weeks before the project began

  7. Media interviews with City staff to explain the project’s design, scope, and schedule

  8. Several newspaper features on the project

  9. Multi-media advertising campaign (newspaper, television, radio, social media)

Each roadway has a unique set of factors that contribute to determining the necessary design of all modes of transportation.

The Complete Street design is just another option for the City to consider as we continue looking to maximize the efficiency and inclusiveness of all modes of transportation in Medicine Hat.

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