Traffic calming measures coming to Copperhaven School

SPRUCE GROVE -- Plans are being developed to reduce traffic congestion in the area of Copperhaven School.

Officials with the Parkland School Division say that since the school's opening in 2018, the site has experienced significant traffic congestion, primarily driven by rapid and ongoing residential development in the surrounding Spruce Ridge, Harvest Ridge, and Copperhaven neighborhoods.

They note that congestion is most acute during afternoon pickup, where vehicle volumes result in significant backups onto Grove Drive. While the long-term solution identified by the City of Spruce Grove is the twinning of Grove Drive, this project is not considered imminent. As one of the measures outlined to reduce the congestion, the City will be extending the road located immediately south of the school.

"That road is not yet completed, but it is scheduled to be completed this summer," said PSD Superintendent Mark Francis. "It is about 3/4 done; there's just a small section that needs to be completed. That road will link up with Grove Drive, which will then this summer connect with Highway 16A."

A dedicated "Parent Drop-Off Bay" will also be integrated into the site plan to move idling vehicles off the main thoroughfares and away from Grove Drive. The drop-off loop is designed to provide a streamlined flow for parents, effectively separating school-related traffic from through-traffic on municipal roads and providing multiple exit points for vehicles.  This solution will also provide separation between school buses and parent vehicles. 

"What this will do is it will increase exit points so they're not all in one place," said Francis. "The other significant thing this will do is separate parent pick-up traffic from bus traffic. We've had an increasing number of situations with a backup of traffic onto Grove Drive for parent pick-up."

It is anticipated that the new parent drop-off loop will be completed during the summer of 2026.