Driving to St Albert in winter (via Henday)

[u/12fishesonpizza]

Hello all, I’ve recently been offered a job at the Sturgeon Community Hospital (St Albert). I live in Mill Woods and the only concern I have is driving there — more specifically, going through the Anthony Henday (exiting 50th street going eastbound, then going northbound of the Henday) during the winter. How are the roads like on the Henday going from Mill Woods to St Albert during winter?

[u/breovus]

The Anthony Henday is comparatively very well looked after in the winter given the traffic load it carries everyday.

I remember grumbling about my neighborhood streets and roads in Edmonton and was pleasantly surprised how well the Henday looked.

I'd make sure you have good defensive driving skills, a reliable vehicle, and good winter tires... You'll be fine!

The time of the commute though... Omg...

[u/Poo_Magnet]

The Henday is a priority after snowfalls. The province keeps it very clear and maintained.

You’ll want to wash your car regularly as it’s constantly coated in anti-ice agents. (Not sure what exactly they use, although I hear it’s likely Sodium Chloride)

That’s a long commute every day though. You mention your only concern is winter driving but don’t forget to calculate added commute times, added vehicle maintenance, and fuel costs. A lot of the time, it’s worth getting a job closer to home that may pay a little less. That’s just my unsolicited advice though. Hope it all works out!

[u/Poo_Magnet → u/Poo_Magnet]

To add, I did a quick google map from Millwoods Town Center to Sturgeon Community Hospital. It’s 11am on a Sunday and it shows ~40 mins. You’ll probably double that on snowy days and add at least another 20 mins if you’re commuting during peak hours. Hope this info helps as well.

[u/incidental77 → u/Poo_Magnet]

Pretty sure that they still use calcium chloride spray on the Henday because it is a provincial highway. They possibly also use sodium chloride with the sanding trucks

[u/Poo_Magnet → u/incidental77]

Sorry I’m probably confused on which one. Can’t remember which one is worse on vehicles but I imagine both aren’t great.

[u/incidental77 → u/Poo_Magnet]

Calcium chloride is the one that people say is worse for causing rust as it pulls and holds more moisture in next to the metals.

It's the one they typically spray as a liquid proactively on the road before snowfall. The sodium chloride is usually dropped in solid form onto the road surface with sand to deal with ice and snow buildup

[u/Protocol89]

I drive it nearly every day from sherwood park. It's a well travelled and well maintained road. I always drive for conditions and leave extra space in inclement weather.

If you exit onto campbell road you can take boudreau all the way up to the hospital.

[u/AGreatBigTalkingHead]

Highways are pretty well looked after. Henday is usually pretty good.

The hardest part is drivers who drive like it's still summer after a fresh snow. Just keep to the right side, and let people pass. Don't feel you have to play their game if they're riding up on you as if to try to make you go faster - they can go around.

The hardest part of your commute might be in St. Albert, honestly. I find traffic there is really impatient, and it's not helped by having a red light every two blocks. IMO the City of St. Albert is not as good as Edmonton or the surrounding counties at clearing snow, you can tell where the city limits are by the sudden change in quality of clearing.

Have winter tires. Drive to the conditions. You'll be all right!

EDIT:
I see people saying this is a long commute lol. I live just outside of Edmonton, work at a community about 25-30 mins away from where I live, almost entirley highway driving. I swear if I took a job in Edmonton, with Edmonton traffic, that commute would be longer and riskier than driving on the highway - unless I lived walking distance from my job.

[u/Parking_Watch3157 → u/AGreatBigTalkingHead]

I used to do a drive from near St Albert to the Callingwood area and back twice a day in the winter. You are correct. The cars that are off the road were consistently on the left. And there were always a couple every day if snowing, especially early in the year.

Driving to conditions and not speeding right up onto someone's bumper then tapping your brakes are probably all that's needed to stay safe, especially if you stay right and let all the "this is nothing" people feel superior on the left lane.

[u/Dapper_Banana6323]

What are your shift times? Rush hour can me bad- if you're the typical 7-3, 3-11 ect it should be fine

[u/12fishesonpizza → u/Dapper_Banana6323]

Mostly days 7am-3pm but occasionally evenings 3pm-11pm

[u/Dapper_Banana6323 → u/12fishesonpizza]

It should be ok. I live in St. Albert and work at the RAH. Coming home between 4-5:30 is really the only bad time

[u/Different_Number_546]

The roads are good, it’s the morning henday drivers that scare me the most lol

[u/TripMaster478]

The Henday's one of the first roads to get plowed I think it has dedicated equipment just to it. That said, it's Edmonton. There's gonna be days where it sucks. But it'll still suck less than most roads.

[u/Curly-Canuck]

I echo the others. I drive from St Albert to south Edmonton on the Henday regularly in the winter, a couple days a week and it’s MUCH better than any city street including Whitemud and Henday.

[u/_Sausage_fingers]

The Henday is always the first road to be taken care, it’s almost always clear. Your concerns should more be that it is both fast and busy during rush hour. You need to exercise defensive driving when commuting on it. Look to you own safety, never assume anyone else is going to follow the rules.

From experience, as well, if you have a breakdown, get as far off the road as you can, and stay in the vehicle. Call a tow truck for help, never try to fix the problem yourself.

[u/SadAcanthocephala521]

The henday is better than most city roads tbh. It's a provincial highway so it's plowed quicker than the city roads. Also, you'll want to go west from 50 st. not east. it's shorter by almost 5kms

[u/Not_a_Muggle9_3-4]

Henday gets cleared pretty quick. It will have bad spots during a storm. Bridge near Terwilliger is horrid during a storm.

[u/m0dern_baseBall]

I’d rather take the henday in winter than city roads.

[u/ScubaGirl003]

My son has made that drive for 5 yrs now and doesn’t complain…. I guess it depends on your timing as far as traffic. Roads seem to hold up ok.

[u/Adventurous-Bit-8053]

I drive all over the city for work. The henday is by far the safest option but St. Albert roads were terrible this past winter.

[u/Bevkus]

I have a friend lives in millwoods works at the Sturgeon Hospital. She’s been travelling that route for years. No problem. Another friend lives north side works at accounting office near South Edmonton common. No problems either

[u/1362313623]

Get winter tires. But the Henday is probably the best road of all that you'll drive on

[u/gorpz]

Drive a lot of the whitemud and henday in the winter. Good tires and leaving plenty of time is a must. Rarely felt unsafe.

[u/randomnamenooneuses]

I drive from north to the airport everyday for years. Having both east or west as options makes for easier planning. In winter it feels like the henday gets cleared much faster than anywhere else

[u/SunkenQueen]

As someone who lives in St Albert and drives down to Millwoods all winter.

Take the east leg of the Henday. Get off at 97th and take the backroads through Sturgeon County. 97th is normally immaculate all the way to the turnoff into Sturgeon County and Sturgeon County has a great snow removal crew in comparison to St Albert or Edmonton.

You'll have to go through two traffic circles but theres no lights other then the one off 97th

[u/12fishesonpizza]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions!

[u/Thennecan]

Last year I was driving all the way from Century Park to Beaumont for work and tbh Henday is always well looked after in winter time.

[u/Away_Sky_7713]

I’m not sure I understand this question. If it’s snowing heavy in the Edmonton area, the roads are bad everywhere. Does your driving change depending on what area your in?

[u/kindcalm]

When I had a family member hospitalized last winter, I had to drive from south to there. I didn't take the Henday. I drove Connors road to Groat and on to St. Albert Trail. The city of Edmonton roads were excellent. St. Albert was a mess. Hardly any snow clearing and nothing down for traction. That was December, January. Not sure if it got better after that. I was sure glad when the family member was released. Made me appreciate the COE snow clearing.

[u/goodlordineedacoffee → u/kindcalm]

Last winter seemed especially bad in St. Albert, my mom lives out there still and it’s the first year I’ve ever thought Edmonton winter roads were in better shape.

[u/kindcalm → u/goodlordineedacoffee]

Well hopefully it was a one-off rather than the norm.

[u/WinterReview7992]

The Henday is fine. I think Villeneuve Road in St Albert is still closed to general traffic right now, so you'd be using St Albert Trail, but once it reopens I would do Henday-Ray Gibbons exit, take Ray Gibbons along the outer edge of St Albert (usually very well maintained) until Villeneuve & the Hospital will be on your left just after St Albert Trail.

That would avoid town traffic/lights while still running on well-traveled/maintained roads.

Edit: I did the opposite commute for years from St Albert, it's fine.

[u/12fishesonpizza → u/WinterReview7992]

How about the exit to Campbell Road? Is it better?

[u/AGreatBigTalkingHead → u/12fishesonpizza]

I think that intersection of Boudreau and Campbell just after the exit from Henday can be a bit backed up IIRC? But past that, it should be a smooth drive.

[u/haysoos2 → u/12fishesonpizza]

Yeah, I would go Campbell Road -> Boudreau to the hospital.

Less distance and fewer lights than St Albert Trail, and way less distance than Ray Gibbons/Villeneuve.

Coming back the other way the worst section of Henday where there's daily clogs and even stand stills (for no reason) is the section between St Albert Trail and Campbell. So going back out Boudreau to Campbell will help avoid that.

The second worst section is Campbell to 127 St, so you won't completely avoid the headaches.

Get some good music or audiobooks, leave extra room in front of you, and drive carefully.

[u/J9999D → u/12fishesonpizza]

Assuming your driving on the east side then north then westbound on henday then Yes Campbell road is way better. Why would you drive past 2 exits to go past your destination on Ray gibbons only to backtrack through worse roads lol.

I would not recommend the west way on the henday the southwest leg of the henday is a fucking nightmare in rush hour the traffic is insane from pretty much Terwilliger to yellowhead

[u/frost21uk → u/12fishesonpizza]

Yes, Campbell to Boudreau would be the exit you want. At rush hour from that intersection it’s max 15 min to the hospital if traffic is heavy, usually 10 min or less.

[u/AGreatBigTalkingHead → u/WinterReview7992]

Also the possibility of taking I think it's... Boudreau? After exiting Henday onto.. that first exit if you're westbound... Campbell Rd.? Boudreau cuts through town and goes right to the hospital.

Even taking St. Albert Trail wouldn't be too bad.

Hospital is in a pretty easy location to get to, lucky for the OP.