Hwy 43 – Bezanson Roundabout
Design and construction of a dual-lane roundabout at the junction of Highway 43 with Highways 733 and 670, improving safety and traffic flow for highway travelers and the Hamlet of Bezanson.
Client: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC)
Location: Bezanson, AB
Project Type: Transportation
About This Project
ATEC retained ISL as prime consultant to complete the preliminary engineering, detailed design, tender package preparation, and construction administration for a new roundabout at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highways 733 and 670 near Bezanson, AB. Highway 43 is a Service Class Level 1 roadway connecting Edmonton to Grande Prairie via Highway 16, and this intersection is one of two accesses to the Hamlet of Bezanson. Highway 670 parallels Highway 43 south to Grande Prairie, while Highway 733 connects north to Highway 49 near the Peace River.
The province has shifted toward roundabouts as its preferred form of intersection control, and ISL’s technical assessments confirmed a roundabout as the right solution for this location. The team designed a dual-lane (2×2) design with high-speed entry treatment, using a series of curves on the approach legs to slow traffic and improve safety for both highway travelers and the local community. Mountable truck aprons were incorporated to accommodate large trucks and emergency vehicles through the roundabout.
ISL’s scope covered roadway, stormwater and illumination design, utility coordination, stakeholder and public consultation, environmental assessments and permitting, right-of-way acquisition, tender package preparation, construction supervision and contract administration, construction survey, geotechnical work and quality assurance materials testing. Illumination upgrades included approach lighting in all directions to support the increasing curve geometry on the approach legs, which was designed to progressively reduce vehicle speeds as drivers near the intersection.
The project team worked closely with the County of Grande Prairie throughout design, maintaining a stakeholder registry to track the County’s requirements and concerns. Environmental work included a Wetland Assessment Impact Form submitted to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas to address wetlands near the roundabout. ISL also coordinated closely with ATCO Gas, ATCO Electric, GP Networks and TELUS to relocate and protect underground and overhead utilities within the project area, including electrical service to a power distribution cabinet and 35 streetlights.
Given the high traffic volumes on Highway 43, ISL developed special provisions to balance the contractor’s need for site access with the need to keep public traffic moving safely through the work zone. The team also delivered the design and tender package under considerable schedule pressure to get construction started in 2024.
The Highway 43 Bezanson Roundabout is the first concrete-surfaced roundabout built for Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors.
Key Results:
- Dual-lane (2×2) roundabout with high-speed entry treatment to improve safety at a Service Class Level 1 highway intersection
- Mountable truck aprons accommodating WB-21 design vehicles and emergency vehicles
- Approach illumination in all directions supporting progressive-curve speed reduction
- Wetland Assessment Impact Form and historical resources statement of justification completed and submitted for regulatory clearance
- Coordinated utility relocations with ATCO Gas, ATCO Electric, GP Networks and TELUS, including a new power distribution cabinet and 35 streetlights
- First concrete-surfaced roundabout constructed for Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
