During the COVID-19 lockdowns, roadway traffic notably
decreased. As early as March 2020, the need to drive to local
destinations was reduced as organizations paused their operations,
decreased their capacity or had staff work from home.
Destination Traffic
While Albertans may notice typical rush-hour traffic in cities
is temporarily gone, it does not seem that highway traffic
associated with destination travel has dipped in the same way.
Despite the restrictions, Albertans have been flocking to
destinations outside of cities for recreation and relaxation. For
example, in mid-July, Sylvan Lake beachgoers overcrowded the town,
setting off a broad spectrum of public health concerns.