Pilot project planned for COLDSCAPES winner, The Edmonton Freezeway

After being announced as one of the winners in the popular COLDSCAPES design competition in 2013, the "Freezeway" may become a reality in the wintry landscape of Edmonton, Canada.

Designed by Edmonton-born student Matthew Gibbs, the Freezeway is an artificial 11 km trail that uses Edmonton's below-freezing winter climate that allows users skate or walk to other parts in the city.

2013 COLDSCAPES Competition Winner: The Freezeway - Matt Gibbs - Edmonton, Canada from KSU CUDC on Vimeo.

It's not Canada's first winter route, but it sure has attracted plenty of attention over time. According to BBC News, a pilot run of the project is currently in the works for a possible launch next winter.

More about the project below.

Project Summary:

"The Freezeway’s vision is to create an iconic and vibrant city that forges its identity from embracing its climatic setting. Moreover, it aspires to create communities and a culture that longs for the winter season with excitement and anticipation."

"Utilizing Edmonton’s cold climate, which is on average below freezing for 5 months a year, the Freezeway uses a climate adaptive approach to address the way we live, and the way we move in a winter city.

Celebrating the magnificence of the winter season in the urban environment, the 11km year-round greenway, combats the typical sedentary nature of the season by creating a winter skating lane that allows you to skate to work, the Oilers arena, or simply just to have fun."

"It is an urban design intervention that at its heart addresses the need to promote: winter programming, active lifestyles, sustainable forms of transportation, social activity, an iconic identity."

"Furthermore in a changing climate, land-based skating (vs pond-based), will be more resilient since it requires far thinner ice. As soon as it’s cold enough for ice it can be up an running, creating a refreshing and warming new approach to living in a cold climate.""