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Calgary's speed limit signs peppered with inconsistencies

So here's something weird. There are roads in Calgary where the speed limit is different, depending on which direction you're driving.

We've discovered a few roads where the limit changes depending on which direction you're driving

These are the actual speed limits on two signs situated on opposite sides of 10th Avenue S.W. in the Calgary community of Sunalta. (Danielle Nerman/CBC)

This story was originally published Sept. 8.


So here's something weird.

There are roadsin Calgary where the speed limit is different, depending on whichdirection you're driving.

The Calgary Eyeopener's Angela Knight recently discovered this quirk, and has been compiling a list of roads where itoccurs.

Here's where she found the directionally dependent speed limits.

Sunaltawhoopsie

You can find this one on10thAvenue, in the block west of14thStreet 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.

  • Have you witnessed anyconflictingspeed signs in your neighbourhood? Post theaddress or location in the comments section.

The city actually didn't believe us when we told them about this one. They said they "verified" onGoogleMaps that the speed is 30 km/hin both directions.

But we have photographic evidence thatshows otherwise:

The Calgary Eyeopener's Angela Knight points to the 50 km/hr speed limit sign that faces westbound drivers on 10th Avenue S.W., a block west of 14th Street S.W. (Danielle Nerman/CBC)
The 30 km/hr speed limit sign that faces eastbound drivers on 10th Avenue S.W., a block west of 14th Street S.W. (Danielle Nerman/CBC)

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 underthat jurisdiction, and is owned by the City of Calgary.

The city said it's already asked the province to change their 60 km/hsign to 50 km/hand the change should happen by October.

Beacon Hill Shopping Centre

If you're traveling downhill (northbound)on Sarcee Trail N.W. bythe Beacon Hill Shopping Centre, the speed limitis 60 km/h.

Butit's 10 km/hlesswhenyou're headingsouthbound, upthe hill.

On Sarcee Trail near Stoney Trail N.W., the speed limit downhill (left) is 60 km/hr. However, uphill (right) it's 50 km/hr. (Google Maps)

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/hsign to 50 km/h.

Altadore playground zone

According to thesign facingsouthbound drivers, the playground zone on 15th Street ends at 45thAvenue S.W.

(Google Maps)

However, if you're driving north on that street, theplayground zone begins at 46thAvenue.

(Google Maps)

So between 45th and 46th Avenues, the northbound speed is 30 km/hand the southbound speed is 50 km/h.

According to City of Calgary spokespersonTara 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 15thStreet 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.


With files from the Calgary Eyeopener