People driving south on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway from Blackfalds, Alberta, should prepare for lane closures and potential delays this week. Maintenance crews began cleaning highway signs late on January 27, 2026, in a stretch that runs from Blackfalds down to McKenzie Road near Red Deer.
The left lane is being closed overnight while workers remove road salt and winter grime from overhead and roadside signs to make them easier to see. According to 511 Alberta, the work is happening overnight to avoid the busiest travel times, with crews typically on the road between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
The cleaning is being handled by Mainroad Alberta Contracting, the company responsible for looking after provincial highways in the region. Drivers are reminded that under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, they must slow down to 60 kilometres per hour when passing maintenance trucks with flashing lights.
While the Town of Blackfalds manages its own local streets, this highway work is a provincial safety project. Keeping signs clean is a priority during the winter because dried salt can make it very difficult for drivers to read exit signs or hazard warnings at night.
