These are the Planned Highway Closures Around Edmonton During July 24 to 27 Papal Visit

Pope Francis will be in Alberta from July 24th  to 27th  as part of the papal tour of Canada. 

While in Alberta, Pope Francis will visit Maskwacis, home to the former Ermineskin Residential School,  and Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, a National Indigenous church in downtown Edmonton on July 25th.

The 85-year-old pontiff will hold a public mass on July 26th at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.  Later in the day, he will visit the famous Indigenous pilgrimage site of Lac Ste. Anne. 

The Alberta government expects that more than 120,000 visitors will attend the papal events including 15,000 at Maskwacis, 775 at Sacred Heart Church, 80,000 at Commonwealth Stadium and 25,000 at Lac Ste. Anne.

The government says visitors and residents should expect delays due to rolling road closures along the papal motorcade routes on Alberta highways and increased traffic due to public events.

The following highways will be closed:

Rolling road closures are scheduled for sections of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway and Highways 2A, 16, 43, 611 and 633 from July 24 to 27 to accommodate the papal motorcade. Edmontonians and visitors should expect some disruption to their travels around the city during the papal visit. 

• What You Should Know About Papal Mass, Parking, and Road Closures During Pope Francis’s Visit to Edmonton

July 24 – Pope Francis arrives

• The public should expect highway closures and limited access to the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway when the Pope travels from the Edmonton International Airport to his destination in Edmonton.
• QEII northbound will be closed between the airport and Edmonton until the motorcade passes by.
• Expect delays along motorcade routes in the city of Edmonton.

July 25 – Maskwacis

• The QEII Highway southbound and Highway 611 west of Highway 2A will be closed between Edmonton and Maskwacis when the Pope travels from Edmonton to Maskwacis on the morning of July 25.
• The QEII Highway and Highway 611 west of Highway 2A will be closed between Maskwacis and Edmonton when the Pope returns to Edmonton later in the afternoon.
• Additionally, travellers can expect closures, significant delays and limited access along portions of Highway 2A, northbound and southbound, between Wetaskiwin, Maskwacis and Ponoka all day on July 25.
• Travellers can also expect closures, significant delays and limited access along portions of Highway 611, eastbound and westbound, all day on July 25.

July 26 – Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage

• Highway 16 westbound, Highway 43 northbound and Highway 633 westbound will be closed when the Pope travels to Lac Ste. Anne late in the afternoon on July 26.
  • Late afternoon rolling closures:
    • Highway 16 westbound
    • Highway 43 northbound
    • Highway 633 westbound
• Highway 633 eastbound to Highway 43 southbound and Highway 16 eastbound to Edmonton will be closed when the Pope returns to Edmonton.
  • Evening rolling closures:
    • Highway 633 eastbound
    • Highway 43 southbound
    • Highway 16 eastbound
• Additionally, closures and restricted access to Highways 16 and 633 can be expected on all range roads and township roads west of Highway 43 and east of Highway 765, south of Lac Ste. Anne.
• Highway 633 between Highways 757 and 43 will be closed except for buses and local traffic.

July 27 – Pope Francis departs

• QEII Highway southbound between Edmonton and the Edmonton International Airport will be closed. when the Pope travels from Edmonton to the Edmonton International Airport on the morning of July 27.

The Alberta government will be providing logistical support during the visit to the province.

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