Idylwyld Drive (/ˈdəlwld/ EYE-del-wild) is an arterial road in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is one of the main roads in and out of the downtown area of the city.

Idylwyld Drive
Idylwyld Freeway (part)
Former name(s)Avenue A
Maintained byCity of Saskatoon
Length8.46 km (5.26 mi)[1]
LocationSaskatoon
Coordinates52°07′11″N 106°40′08″W / 52.1197°N 106.6690°W / 52.1197; -106.6690
South endCircle Drive S
Major
junctions
8th Street
22nd Street
Circle Drive N
Highway 16
Highway 11
North end71st Street
Construction
Inauguration1966

On the south side of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge, it is a freeway and was initially designated as the Idylwyld Freeway (since 2013, the southern portion of the road has also been designated as Idylwyld Drive). It merges into Circle Drive at an interchange completed in 2013.[2] At its north end the road divides into two highways, Highway 11 and Highway 12.

The oldest section of Idylwyld Drive used to be known as Avenue A, the easternmost of the "lettered" north-south streets. In 1966, the Canadian National Railway tracks were relocated out of the downtown; the former railway bridge was demolished and replaced by a traffic bridge; and the former railroad right-of-way south of the river was made into the Idylwyld Freeway. The freeway crossed the river at the bridge and connected at 20th Street to Avenue A, renamed Idylwyld Drive. Two blocks of Avenue A still exist south of 20th Street, as a small remnant.[3][4]

As with the city's other major transitional arterials, 22nd Street West and 8th Street East, Idylwyld Drive features a mixture of uses. At its southern end, on the border of the Central Business District and Riversdale business areas, commercial uses dominate. North of 25th Street, residential dominates the west side of the street, with a mix of hotels, motels, schools and institutional uses, including the Saskatoon campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic (formerly called SIAST Kelsey Campus). North of 33rd Street, a mix of single-family residential and commercial is featured until approximately 36th Street, at which point the road becomes a commercial district. North of Circle Drive, the street elevates to freeway status and passes through suburban commercial and industrial regions until it exits the city.

Beginning with its intersection with 20th Street and continuing north to the city limits, Idylwyld Drive serves as the dividing line for designating "East" and "West" addresses for the west side of Saskatoon (the remnant of Avenue A serves the same purpose south of 20th).

Exits and intersections

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All exits are unnumbered.

Locationkm[5]miDestinationsNotes
Saskatoon0.00.0   Circle Drive (Hwy 11 / Hwy 16) – Yorkton, ReginaNo direct access from eastbound Circle Drive.
1.20.75  Lorne Avenue (Highway 219 south) / Ruth StreetFour ramps together form a complete interchange;
access via Adelaide Street, St. George Avenue, and Vernon Avenue.
2.11.3Taylor StreetNorthbound entrance only.
3.22.08th Street / Lorne AvenueSouthbound exit, northbound entrance.
3.92.4Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge over South Saskatchewan River
4.02.51st Avenue – City CentreNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
4.32.7Avenue A to 19th StreetSouthbound exit only
Freeway ends; becomes arterial road with many at-grade intersections and property entrances.
4.42.720th Street
4.72.9   22nd Street to Highway 7 west / Highway 14 – Rosetown, Biggar
5.03.1Jamieson Street W / 23rd Street EFormer Hwy 5 east
5.23.2  25th Street east to Highway 5
5.93.731st StreetAccess to Saskatchewan Polytechnic (formerly SIAST Kelsey Campus)
6.44.033rd Street
Expressway resumes
7.94.9    Circle Drive (Hwy 11 / Hwy 16) – AirportDiamond interchange; south end of Hwy 11 / Hwy 16 concurrency
9.25.7  Avenue C south / 51st Street east – AirportParclo A4 interchange
10.46.5   Highway 16 (TCH/YH) west – The BattlefordsInterchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of Hwy 16 concurrency
12.07.5Marquis DriveSouthbound access to Hwy 16 west
12.88.071st Street (Auction Mart Road)
Corman Park No. 34413.08.1  Highway 11 north – Warman, Prince Albert
  Highway 12 north – Martensville, Blaine Lake
Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of Hwy 11 concurrency; continues as Hwy 12 north
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ Gmaps Pedometer
  2. ^ "Circle Drive South". Flatiron. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  3. ^ Jeff, O'Brien (2005). "Saskatoon Chronology: 1882-2005" (PDF). City of Saskatoon – Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  4. ^ "A View From Above – Key to Landmarks". City of Saskatoon – Archives. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-11-27. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  5. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 18 April 2016.