Transportation Engineering Services in Edmonton, Slave Lake, and Fort Saskatchewan

Alberta's municipalities face increasingly complex transportation challenges—growing traffic volumes, aging infrastructure, development pressures, and demands for safer, more efficient roadway networks. Whether you're planning a new subdivision in Edmonton, upgrading a rural intersection near Slave Lake, or managing industrial traffic in Fort Saskatchewan, professional transportation engineering services provide the technical expertise necessary for safe, efficient, and compliant transportation infrastructure.

ZALIG Consulting Ltd. delivers comprehensive transportation engineering services specifically designed for Alberta municipalities, developers, and public sector clients. Our team of professional engineers and transportation specialists brings 10+ years of combined experience planning, designing, and analyzing transportation systems across urban, suburban, and rural Alberta contexts.

From initial traffic impact assessments through detailed road design and construction support, we provide the full spectrum of transportation engineering services your project requires. Our approach combines rigorous technical analysis with practical understanding of municipal processes, regulatory requirements, and Alberta-specific conditions, including climate considerations, seasonal traffic patterns, and local design standards.

Serving Edmonton, Slave Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, and communities throughout Alberta, ZALIG has successfully delivered transportation solutions for residential developments, commercial projects, industrial facilities, and municipal infrastructure programs. Our commitment to technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and client service has made us a trusted partner for transportation engineering across the region.

Contact us today at Info@zalig.ca or call +1 800-515-0497 for a free consultation.

Comprehensive Transportation Engineering Solutions for Alberta Projects

Transportation engineering encompasses a diverse range of specialized services—each critical to developing safe, efficient, and compliant transportation infrastructure. ZALIG provides integrated transportation engineering solutions that address every phase of your project from initial feasibility through final construction.

Our transportation engineering services include traffic impact studies that analyze development effects on roadway networks, road and highway design from concept through construction drawings, intersection design and analysis for safe and efficient traffic flow, traffic signal design and warrant analysis, parking studies and facility design, transportation planning for communities and corridors, active transportation infrastructure including bike lanes and multi-use paths, pavement design and asset management, traffic calming measures for residential and school areas, and road safety audits identifying and mitigating collision risks.

This comprehensive service portfolio allows us to serve as your single-source transportation engineering partner, providing continuity across project phases and consistency in technical approach. Whether your project requires a single specialized service or complete transportation planning and design support, ZALIG delivers the expertise Alberta municipalities and developers need.

Our team includes professional engineers registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), transportation planners with municipal experience, traffic analysts trained in industry-standard modeling software, and design technologists skilled in roadway CAD and civil 3D applications. This multidisciplinary expertise ensures comprehensive solutions grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Traffic Impact Studies and Assessments for Development Projects

What is a Traffic Impact Study?

A Traffic Impact Study (TIS), also known as a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), is a comprehensive analysis evaluating how a proposed development will affect surrounding roadway networks. Required by most Alberta municipalities for significant developments, a TIS examines existing traffic conditions, projects traffic generated by the proposed development, analyzes impacts on nearby intersections and road segments, identifies required transportation improvements, and provides recommendations for safe site access and adequate transportation infrastructure.

Municipal approval processes typically require TIS for residential developments exceeding specified unit thresholds, commercial and retail developments generating significant traffic, industrial facilities with heavy vehicle movements, institutional projects like schools or healthcare facilities, and any development where traffic impacts require assessment.

Our Traffic Impact Study Process

ZALIG's TIS methodology follows Transportation Association of Canada guidelines and municipal requirements while providing practical analysis that supports decision-making. Our process includes background data collection including traffic counts, collision history, and roadway characteristics; site access analysis evaluating safe and efficient driveway locations; trip generation estimation using ITE Trip Generation Manual or local data; traffic distribution and assignment to surrounding networks; capacity analysis of affected intersections using Synchro, SIDRA, or HCS software; future conditions assessment including background growth and full development buildout; identification of required improvements including turn lanes, signals, or geometric modifications; and detailed reporting with exhibits, calculations, and clear recommendations.

Our traffic studies are accepted by municipalities throughout Alberta including City of Edmonton, Town of Slave Lake, City of Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County, and regional municipalities. We understand local review processes, coordinate effectively with municipal traffic engineers, and deliver studies that facilitate approvals while protecting both development interests and public safety.

Road Design and Highway Engineering Services

Municipal Road Design

ZALIG provides complete road design services for municipal roadway projects including new road construction, road reconstruction and rehabilitation, rural road improvements, urban street design, collector and arterial roadways, and residential subdivision streets. Our designs comply with Transportation Association of Canada Geometric Design Guide, Alberta Transportation standards, and municipal design criteria while incorporating best practices for Alberta climate conditions.

Our road design process encompasses horizontal and vertical alignment design optimized for safety, efficiency, and constructability; cross-section development including lanes, shoulders, drainage, and utilities; intersection geometry and channelization; drainage design including ditches, storm sewers, and culverts; pavement structural design for expected traffic loadings; grading plans and earthwork quantities; traffic control devices and pavement markings; utility coordination and accommodation; cost estimates and construction staging plans; and construction drawings and specifications ready for tendering.

Highway and Corridor Design

For higher-speed rural highways and urban arterial corridors, we provide specialized engineering including sight distance analysis and clear zone requirements, median design and access management, interchange and interchange modification design, passing lane and climbing lane design, intersection improvements and auxiliary lanes, and roadside safety hardware selection and placement.

Our highway design experience includes projects for Alberta Transportation, regional municipalities, and private developers requiring highway access or modifications. We understand provincial highway design standards, access management policies, and approval processes ensuring designs meet regulatory requirements.

Construction Support Services

Our road design services extend through construction including responding to contractor RFIs, reviewing shop drawings and submittals, providing construction inspection services, addressing field conditions requiring design modifications, and supporting project closeout and as-built documentation.

Intersection Design and Traffic Signal Engineering Services

Intersection Analysis and Design

Intersections represent critical points in roadway networks where safety and efficiency depend on proper design. ZALIG provides comprehensive intersection engineering including capacity analysis using Highway Capacity Manual methods and software tools, geometric design for turning movements and sight distance, channelization and lane configuration, roundabout design and analysis, intersection safety assessment, and signing and pavement marking plans.

Our intersection designs accommodate all road users including vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit. We analyze operations under existing and future traffic conditions, identify deficiencies, and develop solutions that improve safety and level of service while meeting municipal and provincial standards.

Traffic Signal Design and Warrant Analysis

Traffic signals require careful analysis to determine if signalization is warranted and, when justified, proper design for safe and efficient operation. Our traffic signal services include signal warrant analysis per Alberta Transportation and municipal criteria, signal timing design and optimization, pedestrian and accessible signal features, emergency vehicle preemption, signal equipment specifications, coordination plans for arterial signal progression, and construction drawings and specifications for signal installation.

We coordinate with signal equipment suppliers, electrical contractors, and municipal signal maintenance staff to ensure constructable, maintainable designs. Our signal designs have been successfully implemented across Alberta municipalities with proven performance and reliability.

Parking Studies and Parking Facility Design

Adequate parking is essential for commercial developments, institutions, and mixed-use projects. Insufficient parking frustrates customers and reduces business viability, while excessive parking wastes land and increases costs. ZALIG provides parking analysis and design services that optimize parking supply for your specific needs.

Our parking services include parking demand analysis based on land use, location, and user characteristics; parking supply assessment of existing facilities; shared parking analysis for mixed-use developments; parking lot layout and design including circulation, stall dimensions, and accessible parking; parking structure feasibility and design; loading zone and service vehicle accommodation; bicycle parking facilities; parking management strategies; and municipal parking requirement assessments and variance support.

We apply Urban Land Institute Shared Parking methodology, ITE Parking Generation data, and local parking studies to develop accurate parking demand projections. Our parking designs meet Alberta Building Code accessibility requirements, municipal bylaws, and best practices for efficient circulation and user convenience.

For commercial developments requiring municipal approvals, we provide parking analysis that demonstrates code compliance or supports variance requests when reduced parking is appropriate based on demonstrated demand, transit access, or parking management strategies.

Transportation Planning for Alberta Communities

Transportation planning develops long-range strategies for community transportation systems, balancing mobility needs with fiscal realities, environmental objectives, and quality of life goals. ZALIG supports municipal transportation planning initiatives including transportation master plans identifying long-term infrastructure needs and priorities, active transportation plans for walking and cycling networks, transit planning and service design, area structure plans transportation components, corridor studies examining future corridor needs and protection, traffic calming strategies for residential areas, and transportation demand management strategies.

Our planning approach engages stakeholders including municipal staff, council, residents, and businesses to develop strategies with broad support. We analyze existing conditions, project future demands based on growth forecasts, evaluate alternative strategies, and develop prioritized implementation plans with cost estimates and phasing recommendations.

Transportation planning informs capital budget planning, development approval conditions, municipal development plans, and long-term infrastructure investment strategies. Our plans provide the strategic framework municipalities need to manage transportation infrastructure systematically rather than reactively.

ZALIG has supported transportation planning for municipalities across Alberta, delivering plans that balance technical rigor with political and fiscal realities. Our recommendations are practical, implementable, and aligned with municipal capacity and priorities.

Active Transportation and Complete Streets Design

Alberta communities increasingly recognize the importance of transportation options beyond private vehicles. Active transportation infrastructure—sidewalks, bike lanes, multi-use paths, and trails—improves community livability, supports public health, reduces transportation costs, and aligns with sustainability goals. ZALIG designs active transportation facilities that are safe, comfortable, and practical for Alberta conditions.

Our active transportation services include sidewalk design and accessibility compliance, bicycle lane design, including protected bike lanes, multi-use path and trail design, pedestrian crossing enhancements, bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities, wayfinding and signage systems, winter maintenance considerations for active transportation, and complete streets design integrating all transportation modes.

We follow Transportation Association of Canada guidelines for geometric design of active transportation facilities and incorporate best practices from leading cycling cities adapted for Alberta climate and context. Our designs consider year-round usability including drainage, snow storage, and maintenance access.

Active transportation projects often require stakeholder engagement to address community concerns and build support. We facilitate public consultation, prepare visualization materials, and develop designs responsive to user needs and community character.

Whether you're developing a comprehensive active transportation network plan or designing bike lanes for a specific corridor, ZALIG provides expertise that balances engineering standards, user needs, and practical implementation considerations.

Pavement Design and Asset Management

Proper pavement design ensures roadways withstand traffic loads and environmental conditions throughout their design life. ZALIG provides pavement engineering services including structural pavement design for new construction, pavement evaluation and rehabilitation design, pavement management systems for municipal networks, construction materials testing and quality assurance, and lifecycle cost analysis for pavement alternatives.

Our pavement design methodology follows Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design principles, Alberta Transportation pavement design guidelines, and local climate and materials considerations. We analyze traffic loading including truck volumes and axle loads, characterize subgrade conditions, evaluate material properties, and design pavement structures that deliver required performance at optimal lifecycle cost.

For pavement rehabilitation projects, we conduct distress surveys, structural evaluation using Falling Weight Deflectometer or Ground Penetrating Radar, remaining life assessment, and rehabilitation alternative analysis comparing mill-and-overlay, full-depth reclamation, reconstruction, and other strategies.

Our pavement asset management services help municipalities systematically manage roadway networks. We develop pavement condition rating systems, conduct network-level condition assessments, build deterioration models, and create prioritized rehabilitation programs that optimize limited budgets.

Pavement design connects directly with our construction quality assurance services including compaction testing, ensuring as-built pavements match design assumptions and deliver expected performance.

Traffic Calming and Road Safety Solutions

Excessive vehicle speeds and traffic volumes in residential areas create safety concerns particularly for vulnerable road users including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Traffic calming measures reduce speeds and volumes while maintaining emergency vehicle access and resident circulation. ZALIG designs traffic calming solutions appropriate for Alberta conditions and municipal maintenance capabilities.

Our traffic calming services include speed and volume studies documenting existing conditions, community engagement and concern assessment, traffic calming plan development, design of physical measures including speed humps, curb extensions, median islands, roundabouts, and chicanes, traffic diversion measures where appropriate, school zone safety enhancements, and monitoring and evaluation of implemented measures.

We follow Transportation Association of Canada Traffic Calming guidelines adapted for Alberta climate and maintenance constraints. Our designs consider snow clearing operations, emergency vehicle access, and long-term maintenance requirements ensuring solutions remain effective and maintainable year-round.

Road safety audits represent a complementary service examining existing roadways for safety deficiencies. Our audit process follows Canadian Road Safety Audit guidelines, systematically reviewing roadways from a safety perspective, identifying potential collision risks, and recommending countermeasures to improve safety.

Traffic calming and road safety services help municipalities respond to community concerns, reduce collision rates, and create safer streets particularly in residential and school areas.

Transport Engineering Services for Edmonton Projects

Edmonton's size, diversity, and growth create complex transportation engineering challenges. As Alberta's capital and second-largest city, Edmonton features dense urban core areas requiring sophisticated traffic management, rapidly expanding suburban areas with significant development activity, mature neighborhoods with aging infrastructure requiring rehabilitation, and major corridors serving regional and provincial traffic.

ZALIG has delivered transportation engineering services across Edmonton including traffic impact studies for commercial and residential developments in all quadrants, intersection improvements on arterial roadways, subdivision roadway design, traffic signal design and optimization, parking studies for mixed-use developments, and active transportation facility design.

Our familiarity with City of Edmonton design standards, approval processes, and municipal staff ensures efficient project delivery. We understand Edmonton's Complete Streets Design Guidelines, Vision Zero safety initiative, and transportation planning priorities enabling designs aligned with municipal direction.

Transportation Engineering Solutions for Slave Lake and Northern Alberta

Slave Lake and northern Alberta present distinct transportation engineering contexts—lower traffic volumes with different capacity and design considerations, rural highway connections and industrial traffic patterns, seasonal access challenges including spring breakup impacts, resource industry traffic including logging and oil and gas, limited contractor and material availability, and smaller municipal technical staff requiring comprehensive consultant support.

ZALIG's northern Alberta experience includes rural road design and reconstruction, highway intersection improvements, industrial access roads, and transportation planning for smaller municipalities. We understand northern conditions, design for limited maintenance capacity, and provide solutions appropriate for rural Alberta context.

Our relationship with Town of Slave Lake and northern municipalities reflects commitment to serving all Alberta communities regardless of size or location. We provide the same professional engineering excellence to small rural projects as to large urban developments.

Transportation Engineering Services for Fort Saskatchewan and Industrial Corridors

Fort Saskatchewan's location in Alberta's Industrial Heartland creates unique transportation engineering requirements. Heavy industrial traffic, including oversized loads and hazardous materials transport, high traffic volumes on major industrial corridors, intersection capacity for truck movements, industrial site access design, and coordination with existing industrial operations all demand specialized expertise.

ZALIG has delivered transportation engineering for industrial developments, including traffic impact studies addressing heavy vehicle traffic, intersection design accommodating oversized vehicles, site access design for industrial facilities, and haul route analysis and design. Our industrial transportation experience ensures designs that safely and efficiently accommodate these demanding applications.

We also serve Fort Saskatchewan's residential and commercial development with subdivision design, commercial traffic studies, and municipal roadway design. Our comprehensive capabilities support the city's diverse development portfolio.

Why Choose ZALIG for Transportation Engineering in Alberta

Professional Engineering Expertise and Credentials

All ZALIG transportation engineering services are delivered under the responsible charge of professional engineers registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). This professional accountability ensures technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and ethical practice standards. Our engineers maintain continuing education in transportation engineering developments, participate in Transportation Association of Canada committees and initiatives, and stay current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices.

Alberta-Specific Knowledge and Experience

Transportation engineering in Alberta demands understanding of unique regional factors—extreme climate conditions affecting design and maintenance, seasonal traffic patterns including spring breakup impacts, rural road network characteristics, and municipal and provincial standards and approval processes. Our team's extensive Alberta experience means we design solutions that perform in this specific context rather than applying generic approaches.

With projects completed across Edmonton, Slave Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, and throughout Alberta, we understand diverse contexts from dense urban areas to remote rural communities, rapidly growing suburbs to established neighborhoods, and municipal infrastructure to private development projects.

Comprehensive Service Integration

Transportation projects often require multiple engineering disciplines. ZALIG's comprehensive civil engineering capabilities allow seamless integration of transportation engineering with geotechnical investigation, municipal servicing design, stormwater management, construction quality assurance, and project management. This integration provides continuity, reduces coordination challenges, and ensures all project elements work together effectively.

Practical, Implementable Solutions

Engineering excellence means more than technically correct calculations—it requires solutions that are constructable, maintainable, affordable, and aligned with client objectives. Our approach balances technical rigor with practical considerations including municipal budget constraints, construction feasibility, maintenance requirements, political and community context, and long-term sustainability.

We've successfully delivered transportation projects from initial concept through construction completion. This comprehensive experience informs realistic designs that avoid construction surprises, meet budgets and schedules, and deliver intended performance throughout their service life.

Municipal Approval Experience

Transportation projects require municipal approvals—development permits, road permits, encroachment agreements, and acceptance of engineering designs. Our experience navigating approval processes across Alberta municipalities accelerates project delivery. We know what municipalities require, how to present submissions for efficient review, and how to address questions or concerns that arise during evaluation.

Industries and Clients We Serve

ZALIG's transportation engineering services support diverse clients and project types:

Municipal Clients - Cities, towns, counties, and regional municipalities requiring roadway design, traffic studies, transportation planning, and infrastructure improvement engineering.

Residential Developers - Development companies requiring traffic impact studies, subdivision roadway design, and municipal approval support for residential projects.

Commercial Developers - Retail, office, and mixed-use development projects requiring traffic studies, site access design, and parking analysis.

Industrial Clients - Manufacturing, warehousing, and resource industry clients requiring industrial access design, heavy vehicle accommodation, and traffic impact assessment.

Institutional Clients - Schools, healthcare facilities, and public institutions requiring traffic studies, parking analysis, and safe access design.

Private Landowners - Individual landowners requiring traffic studies or access design for development applications.

Regardless of project size or client type, ZALIG delivers the same professional engineering excellence, technical rigor, and commitment to successful project outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transportation Engineering Services

1. What is transportation engineering, and how does it differ from civil engineering?

Transportation engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering focused specifically on planning, design, operation, and management of transportation systems including roadways, intersections, traffic signals, parking facilities, and active transportation infrastructure. While all transportation engineers are civil engineers, not all civil engineers specialize in transportation. Transportation engineering requires specific expertise in traffic analysis, geometric design, traffic control devices, and transportation planning that goes beyond general civil engineering knowledge.

2. When is a traffic impact study required in Alberta?

Traffic impact study requirements vary by municipality. Most Alberta municipalities require TIS for developments generating significant traffic, typically including residential developments exceeding 50-100 units, commercial developments over 2,000-5,000 square meters, industrial facilities with substantial truck traffic, and any development where municipal staff determine traffic impacts warrant analysis. Specific thresholds are defined in municipal bylaws or policies. Early consultation with municipal planning staff clarifies whether your project requires a TIS.

3. How long does a traffic impact study take to complete?

TIS timelines depend on project complexity, data collection requirements, and analysis scope. Simple studies may be completed in 2-3 weeks, standard commercial or residential development TIS typically require 4-6 weeks, and complex studies involving detailed future network analysis or multiple development phases may require 6-10 weeks. Traffic count data collection alone typically requires 1-2 weeks depending on seasonal and weather considerations.

4. How much do transportation engineering services cost?

Transportation engineering costs vary significantly based on service type and project complexity. Traffic impact studies typically range from $5,000-$25,000 depending on scope. Road design costs are typically calculated as percentage of construction value or hourly rates, generally ranging from $15,000-$100,000+ depending on project length and complexity. Intersection design might cost $10,000-$50,000. Transportation planning studies range from $20,000-$200,000+ depending on community size and study scope. We provide detailed fee proposals based on your specific project requirements.

5. What software tools do you use for transportation engineering?

ZALIG uses industry-standard software, including Synchro/SimTraffic for intersection capacity analysis and signal timing, SIDRA Intersection for roundabout and intersection analysis, AutoCAD Civil 3D for roadway design, MicroStation for design coordination, Highway Capacity Software (HCS) for capacity analysis, and specialized tools for specific applications. Using standard professional software ensures our analyses meet industry expectations and are accepted by municipalities and reviewing agencies.

6. Do all transportation projects require a professional engineer?

Alberta law requires professional engineer involvement for engineering work affecting public safety. Transportation infrastructure—roadways, intersections, traffic signals—clearly affects public safety and therefore requires professional engineer design and seal. Beyond legal requirements, professional engineering provides technical expertise, professional liability protection, municipal acceptance, and quality assurance that protects your project investment.

7. Can you help with municipal approval processes?

Yes. Transportation engineering services often support municipal approval processes including development permits, road permits, and encroachment agreements. We prepare submissions meeting municipal requirements, coordinate with municipal review staff, respond to review comments, and support applications through to approval. Our experience with municipal processes across Alberta helps streamline approvals.

8. What makes Alberta transportation engineering different from other regions?

Alberta's extreme climate, rural road network characteristics, resource industry traffic patterns, and provincial/municipal design standards create unique context. Winter design considerations including snow storage, visibility, and maintenance access are critical. Spring breakup affects road capacity and construction timing. Heavy industrial traffic on many routes requires different design approaches. Our Alberta-specific experience ensures designs appropriate for this context.

9. How do you ensure your designs are constructable and maintainable?

Constructability and maintainability inform our design approach from project initiation. We consider contractor capabilities and construction methods, maintenance equipment access and operations, material availability and local construction practices, climate impacts on long-term performance, and budget constraints affecting acceptable solutions. Our team includes engineers with construction experience who understand practical field realities, ensuring designs that work on paper also work in the field.

10. Do you provide construction phase services?

Yes. We provide comprehensive construction support including tender document preparation, contractor prequalification support, RFI response and shop drawing review, construction inspection and quality assurance, field change design when required, substantial completion inspection, and as-built drawing preparation. Continuity from design through construction ensures design intent is realized and issues are resolved efficiently.

Ready to Start Your Transportation Engineering Project?

Whether you're planning a residential development requiring traffic impact assessment, designing new municipal roadways, improving an intersection, or developing a community transportation plan, ZALIG Consulting Ltd. provides the professional transportation engineering expertise Alberta projects require.

Our team of APEGA-registered professional engineers, transportation planners, and technical specialists delivers technically excellent, practical, and implementable solutions across all transportation engineering disciplines. With proven experience serving Edmonton, Slave Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, and municipalities throughout Alberta, we understand regional conditions, municipal requirements, and industry best practices.

Don't let transportation engineering challenges delay your project or result in inadequate solutions. Partner with ZALIG for professional engineering services that ensure safe, efficient, and compliant transportation infrastructure.