Highwood Meadows

Highwood Meadows is a scenic Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, accessed by way of the highest paved road in Canada. As most of Alberta Parks’ sites, Highwood Meadows has seen a significant increase in traffic especially during the Golden Larch season every fall. Insufficient capacity of the existing parking lot leads to visitors parking and walking alongside Highway 40, causing major safety concerns. Due to this, parking accommodations at the site are being expanded. ​​

SweetTech Engineering was retained to perform a site assessment and engineering design for a new parking lot and connecting trails at this site. SweetTech also provided support for the construction and regulatory aspects of the project. ​​

Planning of this project was unique, as it is situated in a high-altitude mountain pass. The highway by which it is accessed is closed for six months out of the year, restricting construction scheduling. The footprint of the site is also restricted, with much of the surrounding area being at high risk for avalanches. In addition, the site is remote and has no nearby cell reception. SweetTech’s designs considered these unique requirements of the site, erosion and drainage considerations, and minimizing environmental damage.​