Calgary's speed limit signs peppered with inconsistencies
We've discovered a few roads where the limit changes depending on which direction you're driving
This story was originally published Sept. 8.
So here's something weird.
There are roads in Calgary where the speed limit is different, depending on which direction you're driving.
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The Calgary Eyeopener's Angela Knight recently discovered this quirk, and has been compiling a list of roads where it occurs.
Here's where she found the directionally dependent speed limits.
Sunalta whoopsie
You can find this one on 10th Avenue, in the block west of 14th Street S.W
Westbound drivers are told to go 50 km/h, but directly across the street from that sign is another sign, stating eastbound drivers must keep to 30 km/h.
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The city actually didn't believe us when we told them about this one. They said they "verified" on Google Maps that the speed is 30 km/h in both directions.
But we have photographic evidence that shows otherwise:
The deep south
If you're heading west on 130th Avenue S.E., just past Douglasdale Boulevard S.E., the speed limit is 50 km/h.
But if you're going eastbound, it's 60 km/h.
The two signs are about one block apart.
Turns out, the eastbound sign belongs to the province because of its proximity to Deerfoot Trail, which is a provincial roadway. The sign for westbound traffic doesn't fall under that jurisdiction, and is owned by the City of Calgary.
The city said it's already asked the province to change their 60 km/h sign to 50 km/h and the change should happen by October.
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Beacon Hill Shopping Centre
If you're traveling downhill (northbound) on Sarcee Trail N.W. by the Beacon Hill Shopping Centre, the speed limit is 60 km/h.
But it's 10 km/h less when you're heading southbound, up the hill.
This is a similar situation to what's going on at 130 Avenue S.E., where the province owns the Stoney Trail interchange, and the city is working to have them change their 60 km/h sign to 50 km/h.
Altadore playground zone
According to the sign facing southbound drivers, the playground zone on 15th Street ends at 45th Avenue S.W.
However, if you're driving north on that street, the playground zone begins at 46th Avenue.
So between 45th and 46th Avenues, the northbound speed is 30 km/h and the southbound speed is 50 km/h.
According to City of Calgary spokesperson Tara Norton-Merrin, the playground zone sign was posted on existing infrastructure — a street light on the northeast corner of the intersection of 46th Avenue and 15th Street S.W.
Norton-Merrin explained that the city often does this because it's cost effective and eliminates the need to put a pole on someone's property.
However, after being informed of the inconsistency, she said the city is going to move the northbound sign closer to 45th Avenue, near the alley.