# Alberta Highway 2A

Highway 2A is the designation of six alternate routes off Highway 2 in Alberta, Canada. In general, these are original sections of Highway 2, such as the southern portion of Macleod Trail in Calgary. They passed through communities before limited-access freeways were built to shorten driving distance, accommodate heavier volumes and to bypass city traffic. Portions of the alignment of Highway 2A follow the route of the former Calgary and Edmonton Trail.

## High River – Calgary

Highway 2A currently begins in the Town of High River and follows 12 Avenue SE and Centre Street before passing by Aldersyde and intersecting Highway 7. The highway then travels westward to the Town of Okotoks, where it branches north and follows Southridge Drive and Northridge Drive through Okotoks before rejoining Highway 2 near De Winton. In 2003, it was extended north by sharing a common alignment with Highway 2 for 3 km (2 mi) until it splits to Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) Macleod Trail (Highway 2A) and ends in the City of Calgary at Stoney Trail (Highway 201). Macleod Trail continues north into downtown Calgary but does not carry a highway designation.

### Major intersections

| Rural/specialized municipality | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
| M.D. of Willow Creek No. 26–Foothills County boundary | Connemara | −25.2 | −15.7 | Highway 2 – Calgary, Fort Macleod, Lethbridge | Former Highway 2A southern terminus |
| Foothills County | Cayley | −18.7 | −11.6 | | |
| Foothills County | ​ | −14.9 | −9.3 | Highway 540 | |
| High River | High River | −1.6 | −0.99 | 12 Avenue SE to Highway 23 east – Vulcan | Former Highway 2A follows 12 Avenue SE; to Highway 2 (exit 194) |
| High River | High River | −3.6 | −2.2 | Centre Street / 12 Avenue SE | Former Highway 2A follows Centre Street |
| High River | High River | −2.3 | −1.4 | Crosses the Highwood River | Crosses the Highwood River |
| Foothills County | ​ | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 543 west / 498 Avenue E east – Longview | High River town limits; Highway 2A southern terminus; to Highway 2 (exit 197) |
| Foothills County | Aldersyde | 10.7 | 6.6 | Highway 7 east to Highway 2 / Highway 547 – Mossleigh, Calgary, Fort Macleod | South end of Highway 7 concurrency; to Highway 2 (exit 209) |
| Okotoks | Okotoks | 15.0 | 9.3 | 32 Street E | |
| Okotoks | Okotoks | 16.7 | 10.4 | Highway 7 west – Black Diamond, Turner Valley Southridge Drive (Highway 783 south) | North end of Highway 7 concurrency; Highway 2A follows Southridge Drive |
| Okotoks | Okotoks | 19.0 | 11.8 | Crosses the Sheep River (North end of Southridge Drive • South end of Northridge Drive) | Crosses the Sheep River (North end of Southridge Drive • South end of Northridge Drive) |
| Okotoks | Okotoks | 19.5 | 12.1 | Elizabeth Street (Highway 549 west) – Millarville | |
| Foothills County | ​ | 26.9 | 16.7 | 290 Avenue E – De Winton | |
| Foothills County | ​ | 27.9 | 17.3 | Highway 552 east Highway 2 south – Fort Macleod, Lethbridge | Highway 2 exit 222; south end of Highway 2 concurrency |
| Foothills County | ​ | 30.5 | 19.0 | Highway 2 north (Deerfoot Trail) – Calgary | Highway 2 exit 225; northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of Highway 2 concurrency |
| Foothills County | ​ | 33.3 | 20.7 | Dunbow Road – De Winton, Heritage Pointe | Northbound access to Highway 552 |
| City of Calgary | City of Calgary | 35.3 | 21.9 | Highway 552 south (226 Avenue S) – De Winton | Calgary city limits; southbound right in/right out; becomes Macleod Trail |
| City of Calgary | City of Calgary | 37.5 | 23.3 | 210 Avenue S | |
| City of Calgary | City of Calgary | 38.6 | 24.0 | 194 Avenue S | |
| City of Calgary | City of Calgary | 40.6 | 25.2 | Stoney Trail (Highway 201)Macleod Trail – City Centre | Highway 2A southern terminus; Highway 201 exit 5; formerly Highway 22X; Macleod Trail continues north |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/former Concurrency terminus Incomplete access ||||||

## Central Alberta

Highway 2A runs adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway between Calgary and Edmonton, although it does not enter either city. Highway 2A generally runs parallel to the Canadian Pacific Railway Calgary-Edmonton line, which runs to the west of Highway 2 between Crossfield and Red Deer, and to the east of Highway 2 between Red Deer and Leduc. Highway 2A is divided into two subsections with a 13 km (8 mi) gap between Bowden and Innisfail.
The first subsection of Highway 2A starts at the Highway 2 / Highway 72 interchange (Exit 295) and passes through the town of Crossfield, town of Carstairs, and by the town of Didsbury before entering the town of Olds along 46 Avenue and intersects Highway 27 (46 Street). The highway continues north to the town of Bowden before terminating at Highway 587, just west of Highway 2 (Exit 357).
The second subsection begins in the town of Innisfail at Highway 590 (50 Street), just west of Highway 2 (Exit 368), along 42 Avenue. The highway continues north and passes through the town of Penhold before entering the city of Red Deer along Taylor Drive. The highway turns east along 19 Street and then north along Gaetz Avenue. Highway 2A splits into one-way couplets through downtown Red Deer, with northbound traffic following 49 Avenue and southbound traffic following portions of Gaetz Avenue and 51 Avenue. After crossing the Red Deer River, the one-way streets rejoin and intersect Highway 11 (67 Street) and Highway 11A, which forms Red Deer's northern city limit. The highway continues north through the town of Blackfalds and city of Lacombe. North of Lacombe, the highway rejoins Highway 2 and share the same alignment for 5 km (3 mi) before the highway branches northeast and passes through hamlet of Morningside, town of Ponoka, and hamlet of Maskwacis. The highway enters the city of Wetaskiwin along 56 Street and continues north through the town of Millet, by the hamlet of Kavanagh, and before it rejoins Highway 2 (Exit 516) in the city of Leduc.

### Major intersections

| Rural/specialized municipality | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
| Rocky View County | ​ | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 72 east – Beiseker, Drumheller Highway 2 – Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton | Interchange; Highway 2 exit 295; continues as Highway 72 |
| Rocky View County | ​ | 2.1 | 1.3 | Dickson Stevenson Trail – Airdrie | |
| Rocky View County | Crossfield | 6.4 | 4.0 | Highway 574 west – Madden | |
| Rocky View County | ​ | 11.3 | 7.0 | Acme Road (Township Road 292) to Highway 2 – Acme | Highway 2 exit 305 |
| Mountain View County | ​ | 18.9 | 11.7 | Highway 580 west – Cremona | |
| Mountain View County | Carstairs | 22.4 | 13.9 | Highway 581 east (Gough Road) | |
| Mountain View County | Didsbury | 33.8 | 21.0 | Highway 582 – Linden | |
| Mountain View County | Olds | 48.3 | 30.0 | Highway 27 (46 Street) – Sundre, Three Hills | |
| Red Deer County | ​ | 62.2 | 38.6 | Highway 2 south | Access only from southbound Highway 2 (exit 353) |
| Red Deer County | Bowden | 66.4 | 41.3 | Highway 587 to Highway 2 | Adjacent to Highway 2 / Highway 587 interchange (exit 357) |
| Gap in route ||||||
| Red Deer County | Innisfail | 79.0 | 49.1 | 50 Street (Highway 590 east) to Highway 2 – Big Valley | Formerly Highway 54; adjacent to Highway 2 / Highway 590 interchange (exit 368) |
| Red Deer County | Penhold | 92.7 | 57.6 | Highway 42 east / Highway 592 west – Pine Lake | |
| Red Deer County | Springbrook | 96.0 | 59.7 | Airport Drive (Township Road 372) – Airport | |
| Red Deer County | ​ | 99.5 | 61.8 | McKenzie Road (Township Road 374) | |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 102.9– 103.6 | 63.9– 64.4 | Highway 2 – Calgary, Edmonton 19 Street / Taylor Drive | Highway 2 exit 395; Highway 2A follows 19 Street |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 104.1 | 64.7 | 19 Street (Highway 595 east) – Delburne Gaetz Avenue to Highway 2 south – Calgary | Highway 2A follows Gaetz Avenue; Highway 2 exit 394; northbound exit and southbound entrance to/from Highway 2 |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 106.1 | 65.9 | 32 Street | |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 109.1 | 67.8 | Crosses the Red Deer River | Crosses the Red Deer River |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 110.4 | 68.6 | 67 Street (Highway 11) – Rocky Mountain House, Stettler | |
| City of Red Deer | City of Red Deer | 113.6 | 70.6 | Highway 11A west – Sylvan Lake | |
| Red Deer County | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| Red Deer County–Lacombe County boundary | ​ | 118.7 | 73.8 | Crosses the Blindman River | Crosses the Blindman River |
| Lacombe County | Blackfalds | 120.0 | 74.6 | Highway 597 – Joffre | |
| City of Lacombe | City of Lacombe | 132.3 | 82.2 | 50 Avenue (Highway 12) – Bentley, Stettler | |
| Lacombe County | ​ | 138.4 | 86.0 | Highway 2 south – Red Deer, Calgary | Highway 2 exit 431; south end of Highway 2 concurrency |
| Lacombe County | ​ | 144.0 | 89.5 | Highway 2 north – Edmonton | Highway 2 exit 437; north end of Highway 2 concurrency |
| Lacombe County | Morningside | 146.9 | 91.3 | Highway 597 west | |
| Ponoka County | ​ | 156.4 | 97.2 | Crosses the Battle River | Crosses the Battle River |
| Ponoka County | Ponoka | 158.2 | 98.3 | Highway 53 – Rimbey, Bashaw | |
| Samson I.R. No. 137 | Maskwacis | 177.3 | 110.2 | Highway 611 east – Ferintosh, New Norway | South end of Highway 611 concurrency |
| Ermineskin I.R. No. 138 | Maskwacis | 180.1 | 111.9 | Highway 611 west | North end of Highway 611 concurrency |
| County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| City of Wetaskiwin | City of Wetaskiwin | 193.5 | 120.2 | Highway 13 west (40 Avenue) / Highway 613 east – Winfield | South end of Highway 13 concurrency |
| City of Wetaskiwin | City of Wetaskiwin | 196.7 | 122.2 | Highway 13 east – Camrose | North end of Highway 13 concurrency |
| County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 | Millet | 209.5 | 130.2 | Highway 616 west (45 Avenue) / Township Road 475 – Mulhurst | South end of Highway 616 concurrency |
| Leduc County | ​ | 214.5 | 133.3 | Highway 616 east – Armena | North end of Highway 611 concurrency |
| Leduc County | Kavanagh | 221.3 | 137.5 | Glen Park Road (Township Road 490) | |
| City of Leduc | City of Leduc | 227.2 | 141.2 | Southfork Drive / 50 Street | Former alignment through Leduc |
| City of Leduc | City of Leduc | 229.0 | 142.3 | Highway 2 – Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary | Interchange; Highway 2; exit 516 |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Incomplete access ||||||

## Smith

Highway 2A, known as Highway 2A:44 by Alberta Transportation, begins Highway 2 near the hamlet of Hondo and connects with hamlet of Smith.

### Major intersections

The entire route is in M.D. of Lesser Slave River No. 124.
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
| ​ | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 2 – Slave Lake, Edmonton | Southern terminus |
| Hondo | 2.9 | 1.8 | Range Road 11A / Township Road 703A | |
| Smith | 14.7 | 9.1 | 1 Avenue S | |
| Smith | 14.7 | 9.1 | Old Smith Highway | Continues west |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |||||

## High Prairie

Highway 2A, known as Highway 2A:54 by Alberta Transportation, begins at Highway 2 at the locality of Triangle, 15 km (9 mi) west of the Town of High Prairie, and connects with Highway 49 near the hamlet of Guy. Prior to 1990, this section was signed as Highway 2 but was renumbered at the same time that Highway 34 was renumbered to Highway 43 (present day Highway 49) north of the Town of Valleyview.
This segment of Highway 2A is considered an alternate route of the Northern Woods and Water Route.

### Major intersections

| Rural/specialized municipality | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
| Big Lakes County | ​ | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 2 – McLennan, High Prairie, Edmonton | |
| M.D. of Smoky River No. 130 | ​ | 5.9 | 3.7 | Highway 747 south – Sunset House | Formerly Highway 34 / Highway 34A |
| M.D. of Smoky River No. 130 | ​ | 27.4 | 17.0 | Highway 49 – Valleyview, Peace River | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi ||||||

## Grimshaw

Highway 2A, known as Highway 2A:36 by Alberta Transportation, begins at Highway 2 at the locality of Roma Junction, 2 km (1 mi) west of the Peace River Airport and 13 km (8 mi) west of the town of Peace River, and terminates in the town of Grimshaw, where it passes by Mile Zero monument of the Mackenzie Highway.

### Major intersections

The entire route is in M.D. of Peace No. 135.
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
| Roma Junction | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 2 – Grimshaw, Peace River | |
| Grimshaw | 11.4 | 7.1 | Highway 2 to Highway 35 / Highway 685 – Fairview, Peace River | Mile Zero of Mackenzie Highway |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |||||

## Former alignments
### Barlow Trail

In the 1960s, Highway 2 entered north Calgary along Barlow Trail; however in 1971 Highway 2 was realigned to the newly constructed Blackfoot Trail freeway (later renamed Deerfoot Trail). Highway 2A was established along most of the original alignment, starting at 16 Avenue NE (Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 1) in the south and continuing north along Barlow Trail for 10 km (6.2 mi), past the Calgary International Airport, to 112 Avenue NE (later renamed Country Hills Boulevard), where it travelled west for 1 km (0.62 mi) to its interchange with Deerfoot Trail. Direct access from Barlow Trail to Blackfoot Trail was closed to make room for the 17 Avenue SE / Blackfoot Trail / Deerfoot Trail interchange.
The Highway 2A designation was phased out in the mid-1980s and the Barlow Trail between 48 Avenue NE (just north of McKnight Boulevard) and the main terminal access was closed to allow for additional runway construction.

### High River – Cayley

The existing section of Highway 2A used extend from High River along 10 Street SE, through the hamlet of Cayley, and intersect Highway 2 at the locality of Connemara, located 8 km (5 mi) north of the town of Nanton along the Foothills County / Willow Creek M.D. boundary. The segment was located only 1.6 km (0.99 mi) west of Highway 2 and was lightly traveled, as such it was dropped by the province in 1997.