Idylwyld Drive

Idylwyld Drive
Avenue A
Maintained by: City of Saskatoon
Length: 8.46 km[1] (5.26 mi)
Location: Saskatoon
South end: Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge
Major
junctions:
Hwy 16
North end: Auction Mart Road

Idylwyld Drive (pronounced /ˈaɪdəlwaɪld/ "EYE-del-wild" or /ˈaɪdəwaɪld/ "EYE-da-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.

On the south side of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge, it is a freeway and is known as the Idylwyld Freeway. It eventually turns into Circle Drive, just east of Prairieland Park. 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 (continuing westward to Avenue Y). 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.[2][3]


Exits and Intersections

This is a diagram of exits and intersections on Idylwyld Drive, from North to South:

Idylwyld Drive Exits
Begins north of Saskatoon as Highway 12
Highway 11 north to Prince Albert Highway 11 enters freeway; Northbound exit, southbound entrance only
Entering the City of Saskatoon
Auction Mart Road At-grade intersection
Marquis Drive At-grade intersection
Highway 16 - Yellowhead Highway west to Lloydminster
Avenue C North, 51st Street NE - to Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
Highway 16 - Circle Drive Highway 16 exits freeway
Idylwyld Drive becomes arterial road through Saskatoon with many at-grade intersections and property entrances
33rd Street At-grade intersection
Jamieson Street/Highway 5 - 23rd Street E Highway 5 continues east; At-grade intersection
Highway 7/Highway 14 - 22nd Street Highways 7/14 continue west; At-grade intersection
20th Street - Becomes Idylwyld Freeway past this point At-grade intersection
Avenue A to 19th Street Southbound exit only
1st Avenue to Downtown Saskatoon Branches off from main lanes; Northbound exit, southbound entrance only
8th Street Southbound exit, northbound entrance only
Taylor Street entrance Northbound entrance only
Highway 219 - Lorne Avenue, Ruth Street
To Lorne Avenue
Future Circle Drive south freeway alignment
Continues as Circle Drive

References