Rocky Ridge Recreation Facility construction moves indoors

From the outside, the beautiful new Rocky Ridge Recreation facility may look complete. Inside its sculptured walls, however, construction is as busy as it ever was. Within the building contractors are finishing tile, installing machinery, and painting in advance of completion in December of 2017. The new facility will open to the public in Q1 2018.

When complete, The 284,000 square foot facility will provide individuals, families and teams from Calgary’s northwest with a unique indoor and outdoor recreation experience. The multisport fitness and recreational facility will include competition and wave pools, a waterslide, competition and leisure skating ice, 3 full gymnasiums, a fitness centre, 160m running track, library, art making and display spaces, a 250-seat theatre, skateboard park, and much more.

The new facility sits within over 75,000 square feet of natural park at Calgary’s highest natural elevation. It boasts 60,628 square feet of reconstructed wetland, complete with 4 kilometres of pathways and trails making it a destination for those seeking outdoor activity. The building itself was designed to add to the natural beauty of the surrounding foothills; the shiny exterior will develop a darker finish over time, helping the building blend into the surrounding landscape.

The City oversaw the planning, design and construction of the facility – the third of four facilities in communities across Calgary including Quarry Park, Great Plains, and Seton – representing a total investment of $480 million. A portion of the cost was contributed by the Government of Alberta as part of the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI). The Seton facility is scheduled to be completed in late 2018 and open to the public in Q1 2019. Both projects are currently on-time and on-budget.

The facility will be managed by the Calgary YMCA, who won a competitive bid to operate and maintain the space. This innovative model ensures the sustainability of the facility without the need for additional tax dollars to fund staffing, maintenance or other operational costs.

Prior to the construction of the Rocky Ridge facility, there were few recreational amenities in the area. The new facility provides a much-needed community gathering space in the northwest, and was designed with input from local community associations, aboriginal groups and residents through a thoughtful engagement process.

For more information and a full amenity list, please visit calgary.ca/recreationprojects.

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1 Street S.W. improvements begin

Construction has begun on a project to improve the streetscape for pedestrians and transit users on 1 Street S.W. between 10 Avenue and 17 Avenue.

The improvements will include wider sidewalks, prominent crosswalks, upgraded LED pedestrian and street lighting, new tree plantings, additional bike racks, increased number of on-street parking spaces and a centre median with banner pageantry program.

“The improvements build on the existing character of the blocks located between 12 and 14 Avenues, extending the streetscape design along the full length of the corridor,” said Graham Gerylo, Urban Strategy project manager with the City of Calgary. “This work will create a safer, more comfortable and inviting environment for the thousands of pedestrians and transit riders that travel along this corridor each day.”

Construction will take place in stages and is being coordinated in a way that best minimizes impacts to businesses, residents, pedestrians and motorists. The first stage of work includes utility crossings along the entire corridor, followed by the improvements along the east side of 1 Street between 10 and 12 Avenues.

As part of the construction, sidewalks will be demolished, and crews will excavate trenches to run electrical conduit to power the new streetlight poles and dig holes for new tree plantings. This work will require the sidewalk and adjacent lane to be closed. The closed lane will be used as a pedestrian detour, where temporary ramps will be installed to provide access to every building entrance.

Some construction activities will require excavation within the roadway and will require full or partial lane closures. When possible, this work will be scheduled during off-peak hours or over weekends. If full-lanes are closed, temporary traffic detours will be set up.

For more details on the project, visit www.calgary.ca/1stcorridor.

Paving the way for a better 17 Avenue S

The City of Calgary is investing in 17 Avenue S. by upgrading utilities, the roadway and the public realm including sidewalks, street lights and more. Construction on 17 Avenue is set to begin the week of April 17 (weather dependent).

“You know 17th Ave as one of Calgary’s most popular destinations,” project manager, Logan Tolsma said. “And we want to keep it that way by giving the avenue some much needed upgrades.”

Work on the avenue is expected to last three to four years. In 2017, construction will begin at Macleod Trail and move west to 5 Street S.W.

What to expect

We’ll be upgrading water and sanitary lines that are nearly 100 years old and rebuilding the road, which is at the end of its lifecycle. All this work takes time and coordination. Full road closures on each block is necessary, while road and utility work is happening. The street will begin to reopen to traffic during sidewalk work.

Businesses on 17th Ave will remain open and accessible throughout construction. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times so Calgarians can still get to their favourite destinations.

“All this work is necessary so 17 Avenue S. can continue serving Calgary and businesses for decades to come, but the work still needs to happen,” Logan explains. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll continue to work with businesses and communities in the area, to ensure they supported throughout construction.”

People driving downtown can use an interactive map online that will show them where to find parking and how to navigate the work zone.

What about the playoffs?

The City has been working closely with the Calgary Police Service to determine how to safely maintain access to 17 Avenue S., or the Red Mile, during the playoffs.

Pedestrian access throughout construction is a priority, so The City will ensure sidewalks are free and clear for people walking on 17 Avenue S. and to and from the Saddledome..

People driving in the area will have to watch for detour signs or can plan ahead using the interactive online map.

For more information on the project vision and schedule visit Calgary.ca/17Avenue

Construction in Calgary remains strong in 2017

Recent building permit values indicate a steady year of construction in 2017, says Calgary Building Services Director Kevin Griffiths.

With $4.7 billion in building permits taken out last year, and total construction value up 29 per cent in the first two months of 2017 totaling $416 million, we continue to see interest in development despite the current economy.

“Calgary is enviable in that we continue to be seen as a growth area,” says Griffiths. “We are still a region that is considered prosperous and an area of opportunity. In 2014, we were growing at a rate equal to New York City. It’s natural that we have slowed down a bit.”

Building permit values 2007-2016

One of the biggest projects in the works is Crosstown, a mixed-use development directly across from the Erlton-Stampede LRT station, with an estimated construction value of over $78 million. It will feature four residential towers and a high street pedestrian-oriented area with a grocery store and other shops.

“We worked extensively with the community to develop the concept for Crosstown,” says Paul Faibish, vice president of development with Anthem Properties Group. “I think people are excited about what it will offer – it’s a very positive thing for the community. Right now, residents in that area have to walk over to Mission to get a coffee, pick up groceries and more. With Crosstown, those amenities will be right in Erlton.”

The project will also include a pedestrian connection across Macleod Trail to the LRT station.

Other developments that have taken out a building permit recently include Arris Towers, with a construction value of about $131 million, the Orchard at $57 million and Seton High School at $42 million.

Building a great city together

The City continues to work closely with industry partners to better serve our city and enable development that meets the needs of Calgarians. The Industry City Work Plan has identified opportunities to improve City processes to help get more projects to the construction phase. One example includes improvements on how The City processes several development permit application types, which has reduced the time it takes for developers to obtain decisions.

“Improvements such as these make Calgary a more attractive place for real estate investment as they create more certainty in the process. This can contribute to moving our economy in the right direction,” says Griffiths.


As part of the Industry City Work Plan, The City has significantly improved its review times on several key development permit applications types since March 2016.

Top 15 building permit applications in 2016 by construction value

For more information about developing our city, visit calgary.ca/pd.

Centre Street North paving project to begin this weekend

In order to extend the life of one of Calgary’s busiest roadways, Roads crews will be paving Centre Street North between 7 Avenue and Beddington Boulevard N.E. starting this weekend.  

 “We’ve identified sections of the roadway that are in immediate need of rehabilitation along Centre Street and hope to have the work completed over the next couple of weekends,” says Chris McGeachy, spokesperson for Roads.

Due to the scope of the work, crews will have to close various lanes which will have an impact on traffic.

“To maximize efficiency, we will begin work on localized sections of the northbound lanes this weekend, weather permitting, and then turn around and head southbound the following weekend,” adds McGeachy.

The first weekend closures will be focused on the northbound lanes, with milling work starting on Friday, Sept. 23.

• Milling on Centre Street N will take place on Friday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from 7 Avenue to 16 Avenue. The road will be reduced to a single lane in each direction at various areas throughout this closure. Police will be onsite to detour traffic when milling work occurs in the intersections
• Milling and paving work will occur from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25. During these times, the northbound lanes of Centre Street will be closed and two way traffic will be in place in the southbound lanes between 7 Avenue and Beddington Boulevard N.E. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes when possible.

While the schedule for the following weekend (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2) has not been finalized, motorist should expect to see similar closures in the southbound lanes during that time.

The City of Calgary’s Surface Overlay program helps rejuvenate our transportation network and provide a smooth surface for road users. For more information on paving, visit Calgary.ca/paving.

Roads wraps up another successful season of summer maintenance

City crews finished spring-cleaning our roads in early May, which meant getting a head-start on summer maintenance work. Despite heavy rains in July, crews have kept busy over the last few months with pothole repair, boulevard maintenance and gravel lane repair.

“Having warm weather early in the season gave our crews a great opportunity to fill extra potholes and get a jump on asphalt repair. This work helps keep motorists, pedestrians and cyclists safer all year round,” says Roads Maintenance Manager Bill Biensch.

Here’s a look at some of the maintenance work done on City streets over the past few months.

Pothole Repair

Potholes can pop up on any of Calgary’s roads, even after a mild winter. When water seeps through cracks in the asphalt, it freezes and expands, causing the road surface to rise. Melting ice then leads to an empty space beneath the asphalt. The weight of vehicles driving over the asphalt causes the surface to collapse, creating a pothole. While major roads are inspected regularly, crews rely on citizen reports to 311 for potholes on residential roads.

In May, June and July, crews filled over 3,600 potholes across the city, with nearly half of those potholes being filled in July. Crews were also able to fill some potholes throughout the 2015-2016 winter season when the weather was warm and dry.

Go online to report a pothole on City roads.

Boulevard Maintenance

The Roads boulevard crew had a busy summer maintaining over 1,400 hectares of green space that runs along roadways. Boulevard maintenance includes mowing, managing pests, landscaping, and cleaning up litter. Between May and August, our boulevard crews:

• Collected over 2,000 bags of garbage on the boulevards and 900 bags of prohibitive noxious weeds.
• Planted and maintained 65 annual planters along the cycle track network
• Planted 125 larch tree seedlings along Sarcee Trail 
• Scouted locations to plant 4,000 trees across the city in 2017

Gravel Lane Repair

Every community across Calgary is inspected as part of the gravel lane repair program. Crews inspect gravel lanes to see if it is necessary to re-grade them, to address issues like potholes and drainage.

To date, crews have inspected and completed re-grading of gravel lanes in over 100 communities across the city, with several more scheduled to be done in September and October.

Click here to see the full gravel lane repair schedule.

As fall approaches, crews will be completing summer maintenance projects and preparing for the inevitable first snowfall. Stay up to date on all Roads projects by following @yyctransport on Twitter.

Labour Day weekend construction - what commuters need to know.

Long weekends are an opportune time to get construction done without impacting the 9-5 weekday commuters. While motorists may notice several projects around Calgary, these closures can happen for a variety of reasons.

Paving

This weekend, paving continues on Silver Ridge Drive N.W., 14 Street N.W. and Edmonton Trail N.W. Keep in mind this work is weather dependent and rain could cause delays. For more information on paving, visit Calgary.ca/paving.

• Edmonton Trail N.E. will be reduced to a single lane in each direction between 4 Avenue N.E. and 16 Avenue N.E. from 5 am to 10 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday this weekend.
• 14 Street N.W. has moved into phase 3 of 4 of paving work – traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Kensington Road to 5 Avenue N.W.
• Silver Ridge Drive N.W. will be closed to through-traffic between Silvercrest Drive N.W.  and Silvercrest Crescent N.W. beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday. This closure remains in place until 7 p.m. on Monday and accommodates paving work.

LRT Maintenance Work

LRT maintenance work will occur on 14 Avenue N.W. This will affect certain bus/train routes, for more information visit calgarytransit.com.

• 14 Avenue N.W. is closed between 14 Street N.W. and 19 Street N.W. beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday. This closure continues until 11:59 p.m. on Monday and accommodates LRT maintenance work.

Water Services utility work

48 Avenue N.W. is reduced to a single lane in each direction at 23 Avenue N.W. and there will be no access to westbound 23 Avenue N.W. via 48 Avenue N.W. This closure remains in place until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Local access will be maintained in the area. This closure accommodates water services utility work.

• Elbow Drive is closed at 75 Avenue S.W. beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Sept. 2). This closure remains in place until 5 a.m. on Monday and accommodates water services utility replacement. Motorists will be detoured around the closure via signage, and are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes when available.

Deep underground utility work

• 5 Avenue S.W. is closed between Centre Street and 1 Street S.W. beginning at 7 p.m. Friday (Sept. 2.) This closure remains in place until 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
• There will be a two-way setup on 4 Avenue S.E. between 1 Street S.W. and 1 Street S.E. beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Sept. 2). This setup accommodates a detour around construction at Centre Street S, which will be closed between 4 Avenue S.E. and 6 Avenue S.E. during this time. This closure remains in place until 5 a.m. on Tuesday and accommodates deep utility work. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes when possible.

Road paving is heating up - long weekend construction blog

Heading into the long-weekend, paving is heating up across the city.

“Paving is essential for maintaining our roadways. It helps restore a smooth surface and keeps the base layers intact to prevent costly and large impact roadwork from happening down the line,” says Chris McGeachy, Communication Advisor, Roads.

The long weekend is always an excellent opportunity for crews to get work done without the large volume of 9-5 traffic during the week. Here are some areas where motorists can expect delays this weekend:

NE

• Edmonton Trail is being paved from 16 Avenue N.E. to 42 Avenue N.E. on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Motorists can expect a single lane of traffic in each direction during the work.

NW

• Crowchild Trail N.W. will have lane reductions in both directions at the University LRT Station beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, July 30. Motorists can expect reduced speeds and delays in the area. This closure remains in place until 4 a.m. on Monday, August 1.
• Banff Trail N.W. will be closed to all northbound traffic at 16 Avenue N.W. beginning at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29. This closure continues through 4 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2 and accommodates work on the Banff Trail C-Train station.
• The exit ramp from northbound Crowchild Trail N.W. to Northland Drive N.W. is closed beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 28. This closure continues until 10 p.m. on Monday, August 1 and accommodates paving.
• Centre Street N will be reduced to a single lane in each direction at 31 and 32 Avenue N.W. beginning on Saturday, July 30 at 6 a.m. This closure continues until Sunday, July 31 at 8 p.m. and accommodates utility work.

SE

• Centre Street S is closed between 6 Avenue and 8 Avenue S.E. beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29. This closure continues until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2 and accommodates construction.

SW

• Anderson Road S.W. will be paved between 14 Street S.W. and Macleod Trail. There will be various lane closures along this stretch daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. beginning on Saturday, July 30. These closures also occur daily during these hours on Sunday, July 31 and Monday, August 1. Motorists should expect delays in the area and use alternate routes when possible.
• 17 Avenue S.W. between 8 Street and 9 Street S.W. will be closed beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29. This closure continues until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2 and accommodates deep utility installation. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to north and southbound 9 Street S.W. to 14 Avenue S.W. Westbound traffic will be detoured north of 8 Street to 14 Avenue S.W. and south on 9 Street to 17 Avenue S.W.

Intersection Approach Paving

From 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 there will be a various lane closures in certain intersections as part of the intersection approach paving program. Motorists should expect delays in the area.

• 16 Avenue at 6 Street N.E.
• 16 Avenue at Deerfoot Trail
• Memorial Drive at Deerfoot Trail

For more information on all these projects and more, visit Calgary.ca/paving.

Long weekend construction closures: July 1 - July 3

Long weekends give us the opportunity to get extra work in and minimize the disruption to commuters.
In addition to some ongoing large infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Canada Highway/ Bowfort Road N.W. Interchange, the Glenmore Trail / Ogden Road S.E. Interchange, the Crowchild Trail/Flanders Avenue S.W. and the Macleod Trail 162 Avenue S projects, there are a number of other projects happening which Calgarians should be aware of. Keep in mind, weather can play a factor in construction, and schedules can change due to inclement weather.

Northeast

Edmonton Trail is scheduled for paving this weekend, weather permitting. Motorists will be impacted on Saturday and Sunday.

• Edmonton Trail N.E. is reduced to a single lane in each direction from 16 Avenue N.E. to 14 Avenue N.E. from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 2.
• Edmonton Trail N.E. is reduced to a single lane in each direction between 14 Avenue N.E. and 4 Avenue N.E. from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 2.
• Edmonton Trail N.E. is reduced to a single lane in each direction between 5 Avenue N.E. and Memorial Drive from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 3.

For more information visit Calgary.ca/paving.


Southeast

• Barlow Trail between 50 Avenue S.E. and 61 Avenue S.E. will be closed from 6 a.m. Friday, July 1 until 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 2 for C.P Rail replacement, paving repairs and concrete work. Local traffic will be detoured to 52 Street S.E. via 50 Avenue S.E. and 61 Avenue S.E. to bypass the construction. Alternate routes are recommended as delays are expected.
• Northbound Bonaventure Drive S.E. is reduced to a single lane north of Lake Bonavista Drive S.E. beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 1. This closure continues until 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 2 and accommodates road work.

Southwest

• 2 Street S.W. is closed between 15 Avenue and 18 Avenue S.W. beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 1. This closure remains in place until 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 3 and accommodates construction.
• 14 Street S.W. is reduced to a single lane in each direction between 17 Avenue S.W. and 19 Avenue S.W. beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 2. This closure continues until 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 3 and accommodates construction.

We would like to thank motorists for their patience during road construction, and remind them to slow down in construction zones. For more information on road closures, visit Calgary.ca/trafficinfo, or for up to the minute closure information, follow @yyctransport on Twitter.

Scary near-miss a reminder to all Calgarians to slow down in construction zones



Imagine walking down the hallway to the office photocopier and having to check both directions for speeding vehicles. Picture yourself sitting at your desk and feeling the tailwind of cars speeding by. For many of our construction crews, this is a day-to-day reality. 

Michael Dejewski and Raiden Marshall experienced a near miss recently

Sometimes the feeling is too close for comfort. In early May, Traffic employees Raiden Marshall and Michael Dejewski were marking lanes by 68 Street and 16 Avenue N.E. While Raiden was setting up the equipment, Michael was setting down the last of the cones placed behind their trailer and light board to alert traffic work was happening. It was at this moment when a speeding vehicle encroached the pair’s workspace.

“As soon as I heard the screech I yelled at Raiden,” recounts Michael. “The car swerved around the trailer, I don’t know if it skimmed it or clipped the trailer, it all happened so fast, but the vehicle hit the curb, went airborne, came to a brief stop and then sped off.”

Remarkably, the vehicle landed between Raiden and the Roads truck, yet it was still too close for comfort he says. “It’s scary — all you can do is react. The adrenaline was going at that point, when I heard Michael yell, and the screech of the vehicle, you know something bad is coming your way.”

While this might be an extreme case, the notion among those who work on the road is the same no matter who you ask. The road is a dangerous place to begin with, and those who ignore construction zone signage are making the problem worse.

What would Michael and Raiden like to see from motorists? “A little more sensitivity,” says Raiden. Michael adds, “when you see signs, understand that crews might be working in and around those areas.”

"My Dad Works Here" returns in 2016

Following Stampede, the "My Dad Works Here" campaign will kick off again in Calgary. The campaign features the children and grandchildren of Water Services and Roads employees and is aimed at reminding Calgarians that the people working out in the construction zones have families that they want to get home safely to at the end of the day.

Please remember, when you are out and about on the roads, pay attention and slow down when driving through construction zones or near a City or emergency vehicle. Our fellow employees work there.

For more information, visit calgary.ca/constructionzonesafety

Major paving projects rolling out

The City of Calgary’s Construction season is well underway, thanks in part to a mild winter. City crews and contracted forces will be working on over $39 million worth of pavement rehabilitation projects at over 140 locations around Calgary this summer and fall.

Some locations of note for this summer’s construction season include: (See interactive map)

• 14 Street N.W. from Memorial Drive to 21 Avenue N.W.
• Northmount Drive N.W. from Cambrian Drive to 4 Street N.W.
• Macleod Trail from 34 Avenue to 58 Avenue S.E.
• Bonaventure Drive S.E. from Canyon Meadows Drive to Anderson Road S.E.
• Edmonton Trail from Memorial Drive to 32 Avenue N.E.
• 36 Street N.E. from Memorial Drive to McKnight Boulevard N.E.

Every effort is made to schedule work during off peak hours and nighttime whenever possible. For more information on traffic closures, you can visit Calgary.ca/trafficinfo, or follow us on Twitter for up to the minute closure information @yyctransport.

Citizens will also notice some changes to our paving website, located at Calgary.ca/paving. This year we’ve added an interactive map that displays more details on individual projects than ever before. This map displays both City and contracted projects, as well as microsurfacing work planned for the 2016 season. Below the map there are also a number of project pages related to the major projects planned for 2016, and links to the major projects being undertaken by Transportation Infrastructure.


Finally we would like to take this opportunity to remind Calgarians that the road is our office. We ask that you please adhere to all signage posted and help our workers get their jobs done safely and effectively. This not only includes slowing down in construction zones, but also moving your vehicles when you see no parking signs prior to road paving. Road construction is a very demanding profession, and with your help and patience we can make the job go as smoothly as possible.

Six beautified Kensington blocks and more underway

The City’s Kensington development project is moving along quickly, with six blocks of construction already completed. In partnership with the Kensington Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ), our crews are working hard to improve to sidewalks, trees, streetlights, and street furniture in the area.

Visitors to Kensington can expect to see construction continue over the summer, but don’t worry - businesses will remain open and accessible while the work is being done. The blocks that have already been completed are:

• The east side of 10 Street NW between 4 Avenue and 3 Avenue NW
• The east side of 10 Street NW between 3 Avenue and 2 Avenue NW
• The east side of 10 Street NW between 2 Avenue and Memorial Drive NW
• The north side of Kensington Road NW between 10A Street and 11 Street NW
• The west side of 10 Street NW between 2 Avenue and 3 Avenue NW
• The west side of 10 Street NW between Gladstone Road and 3 Avenue NW

Before and After image of the west side of 10 Street NW between Gladstone Road and 3 Avenue SW

Brand new sidewalks on the completed blocks will make the area safer by removing trip hazards for pedestrians. We’re beautifying the streets by installing healthy new trees, which will also reduce annual maintenance costs. Street furniture such as bike racks, benches and newspaper corrals are being put into place. And new, energy-efficient streetlights will keep Kensington lit up at a low cost.

“We know that Kensington is a popular destination for Calgarians over the summer. Our crews are working hard to keep construction on schedule while making sure you can still access your favourite businesses safely, with ramps and flag persons on site,” said project manager Erin Ward. “After each construction block is done, Calgarians will notice brighter lights, smoother sidewalks, and extra bike racks and benches.”

Construction will continue on the remaining blocks of Kensington Road and 10th Street N.W. until October. To follow along with project updates and see the full schedule of upcoming construction, visit Calgary.ca/Kensington.

Long weekend construction closures: May 20-23, 2016

Construction in full swing this long-weekend

Roads Construction work is an essential part in keeping Calgary’s roadways safe and in good condition. As construction zones are work spaces that often require lower speeds and narrowed lanes to maintain safety, motorists are reminded to slow down in construction zones or avoid these areas if possible.

While construction has been happening in our city for few months already, thanks to this year’s mild winter, the May long-weekend is officially the beginning of construction season.

In addition to some ongoing large infrastructure projects such as the Trans Canada Highway/ Bowfort Road N.W. Interchange, the Glenmore Trail and Ogden Road S.E. Interchange, Crowchild/Flanders Avenue Interchange , Macleod Trail / 162 Avenue S Interchange and the Government of Alberta’s Ivor Strong Bridge Rehabilitation on Deerfoot Trail S.E., there will be a number of smaller projects happening throughout Calgary this weekend that could have an impact on your commute.

Northeast

• The ramps from southbound 36 Street N.E. and Sunridge Way N.E. to westbound 16 Avenue N.E. will be closed for four hours starting at 10 p.m. this Saturday, May 21 for road construction.
• The ramps from eastbound 16 Avenue N.E. to northbound and southbound 36 Street N.E. will be closed from 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 to 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 22 for road construction.
• The left lane of both northbound and southbound Edmonton Trail N.E. are closed from 4 Avenue N.E. to 8 Avenue N.E. from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. A similar closure occurs from 8 Avenue to 16 Avenue N.E. from 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. These closures accommodates construction.

Northwest

• 13 Avenue N.W. will be closed at Centre Street N beginning at 8 p.m. tonight (May 20). During this closure, the southbound lanes of Centre Street N will be closed at 13 Avenue N.W. and a two-way setup will be in place in the northbound lanes. This closure remains in place until 5 a.m. on Monday, May 23 and accommodates construction.
• 5 Avenue N.W. will be closed between Crowchild Trail N.W. and 23 Street N.W. beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. This closure remains in place until 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 and accommodates utility work.

Southeast

• 84 Street S.E. will be closed at 50 Avenue S.E. beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. This closure continues until 6 p.m. on Monday, May 23 and accommodates railway crossing work.
• 3 Street S.E. will be closed between 6 Avenue and 9 Avenue S.E. beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. This closure continues until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24 and accommodates Transit work.
• 6 Avenue S.E. will be closed between 4 and 5 Streets S.E. beginning at 7 p.m. tonight (May 20). During this closure the right lane and adjacent sidewalk of northbound 4 Street S.E. will be closed at 6 Avenue S.E. This closure continues until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24 and accommodates Transit work.
• The right lane of eastbound 26 Avenue S.E. will be closed east of 11 Street S.E. beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. This closure continues to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 and accommodates construction.

Southwest

• Eastbound 10 Avenue S.W. will be closed with a two-way setup in the westbound lanes between 7 Street and 8 Street S.W. beginning at 9 a.m. tonight (May 20). This closure accommodates Water Services work and remains in place until 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 22.
• 10 Avenue S.W. will be closed between 5 Street S.W. and 6 Street S.W. from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 for utility work.
• Northbound 11 Street S.W. will be closed and the southbound lanes reduced to a single lane between 8 Avenue and 9 Avenue S.W. starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. During this closure, the two left lanes of 9 Avenue S.W. will be closed at 11 Street S.W. This closure remains in place until 7 p.m. on Monday, May 23 and accommodates utility work.

For more information or to see all the road/lane closures happening this weekend, visit calgary.ca/trafficinfo

Calgary.ca’s paving page gets a makeover

The City is launching a new online tool to help Calgarians learn where and when paving is being done.

The new map will help citizens easily identify paving work.

This year, those who are interested in finding out where crews will be paving will notice a new user experience on Calgary.ca/paving – an interactive map highlighting Contracted and City Pavement Rehabilitation locations and micro surfacing projects.

As part of The City’s commitment to improving our user experience, the map was developed with the hope of improving transparency and helping to highlight The City of Calgary Roads Construction Division’s 2016 paving projects. The system pulls information from The City’s geographic information system and displays it on an easy–to-read map.

The City of Calgary has over 127 paving jobs planned for 2016, covering 271 lane kilometres. 70 per cent of the work will take place on major roads with the other 30 per cent in residential areas. In some areas, work has already begun on concrete repairs prior to paving.

The City of Calgary and its contracted partners are currently scheduling these projects between now until the end of October. Residents are reminded that the rehabilitation of a roadway involves several different steps, and can take up to eight weeks to complete.

Prior to road work, citizens will be required to remove their cars and will be notified via signs placed on the road at least 12 hours prior to paving. The street will be milled, manholes will be levelled and the road will then be paved.

For a detailed description of this work, see our paving steps brochure

Please keep in mind that every effort is made to adhere to construction schedules, however complications due to weather and equipment can sometimes cause delays.

For information on The City of Calgary’s 2016 paving projects, and to see the new paving map in action, visit Calgary.ca/paving

For information on The City of Calgary’s concrete programs, visit Calgary.ca/concrete

For information on The City of Calgary’s micro surfacing program, visit Calgary.ca/microsurfacing

City Construction Crews Celebrate Earth Day

City staff participated in Earth Day activities last week, organized by the general contractor at two major transportation infrastructure projects, Graham Infrastructure.

Cleaning up at the Glenmore Trail / Ogden Road project site

The collective green team spirit was shared across staff that participated from Graham, The City, major subcontractors (Wilco, Standard General, KLS, Lafarge, Harris Steel), project suppliers (Davidson Enman, United Rentals), and consultants (ISL, Stantec, CH2M).

Together, the team scoured both construction areas during the morning, picking up garbage and debris while learning about environmental safety and protection.

Clean-up at the Macleod Trail / 162 Avenue construction location

“This was a great opportunity for The City and Graham Infrastructure to partner in an environmental emphasis and help clean up the construction sites”, said Sig Undheim, Project Manager for The City at the Glenmore Trail / Ogden Road interchange project. “Construction crews manage garbage and debris on a regular basis, but the Earth Day clean-up was a specific dedicated team focus on the project sites and surrounding area.”

“We were very excited about being asked by Graham to take part in this Earth Day initiative,” added Kara Wolfe, City Project Manager for the Macleod Trail / 162 Avenue Interchange. “The environmental walk-about also gave us a chance to ensure that the construction sites and surrounding areas are as clean and safe as possible.”

“This is an initiative that Graham Infrastructure has taken to reflect the company’s focus on environmental protection,” said Bryce McKay of Graham Infrastructure. “We’re glad we had the chance to partner with City of Calgary staff to help clean up these active construction sites.”

Almost 100 employees from Graham, The City, project subcontractors and consultant groups participated in this special Earth Day focus.

Lighter, brighter downtown underpass takes shape

Walking through the 8 Street SW underpass is going to be cleaner, safer and more visually stimulating starting this May.

Crews installing paving stones on east side walkway

Pedestrian traffic is currently being directed to the west side of the 8 Street SW underpass while improvements to the east side walkway take place. But in a few short weeks, Calgarians will be treated to a whole new underpass experience as the east side opens up.

The east side underpass enhancements include construction of new sidewalks, concrete surface repairs, LED lighting, public art, and repairs and maintenance of upper and lower retaining walls.

“Safety and cleanliness are the most important elements in the use of places that people use, including downtown underpasses”, said Ben Barrington, Program Manager, Implementation Urban Strategy. “What’s happening on the 8 Street underpass addresses these concerns by not only doing necessary maintenance but adding an exciting visual experience from the new design and upcoming public art. It’s all about connecting people and places.”

Construction on east side walkway nears completion

Crews will repaint the bridges to make the area brighter, and will construct a public art installation between the two bridges. The bridges themselves will be cleaned, repainted and lit with new LED lighting.

When the enhancements on the east side are completed in May and it is opened to the public, the pedestrian walkway on the west side will be closed until the improvements are finished. As well, one lane of southbound vehicle traffic will be closed for the work to proceed.

All underpass improvements in this area are anticipated to be completed by early this fall.

The 8 Street SW Underpass Enhancement project is part of a broader corridor improvement program being undertaken by The City, to improve the pedestrian environment and connections between the Beltline and downtown communities.

Construction season wrap-up 2015

Putting the finishing touches on concrete

Each year The City of Calgary plans, schedules, and implements a number of construction projects around Calgary. While there may be some minor work still happening on Calgary roads by contractors, The City is now focused on the winter maintenance and has ceased major construction operations for the season. Here is a summary of the work completed in 2015.

Paving

The City of Calgary’s pavement rehabilitation program revitalizes roadways that have deteriorated over time. Some highlights of the paving season include:

• 75 paving locations completed around Calgary,
• Laid 83,034 tonnes of asphalt,
• 520,000 m² asphalt paved,
• 192,102 litres of tack coat (bonding agent between old surface and new surface),
• 757 manhole repairs, and
• 85 traffic setups

Concrete

Each year The City has a number of programs that rehabilitate or replace old concrete. The City is proud of the concrete work they do, and what they do is set in stone. The City has its own internal training program for Concrete Finishers and Formsetters. Some highlights of the 2015 concrete season include:

• 12,061 lineal metres of concrete replacement,
• Focus on pedestrian detours and access this year, including cycle detours, and
• Completed jobs on top of the regularly scheduled work for Water Services, Transit and Plants projects.

Development and Projects

The City’s Development and Projects group focuses on the various streets improvements and active modes programs. Working with our contracted partners, The City completed 30 Various Street Improvement (VSI) Projects:

• All projects were selected based on safety and optimization including:
• Four Transit projects,
• Four Roads Safety projects,
• Four Industrial sidewalk program projects,
• One project for Water Resources, and
• One project for Waste & Recycling Services.
• Construction at Anderson and 14th Street SW was completed this summer. One of the best parts of this project was working with ATCO Pipelines on a solution for design at this intersection to allow construction to be completed in 2015.

Roads also worked with our contracted partners on 15 Active Modes projects:

• Of which 3 were traffic calming and another 12 were pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and
• 8 bike ramps were constructed to enhance bike infrastructure at various locations throughout the city.
• The Kensington Public Realm project construction was also kicked off in 2015. The City completed two blocks along the east side of 10 Street between 4 Avenue and 2 Avenue N.W. Construction will recommence in Spring 2016.

Contracted Services

Many projects would not be possible without some of The City’s great contracted services partners. Some highlights of the 2015 season include:

• Miscellaneous Concrete work:
• 1078 lineal metres of Curb and Gutter,
• 10677 m² of sidewalk pours, and
• 1344 m² of separate walk pours.
• Frost Concrete work:
• 418 lineal metres of Curb and Gutter, and
• 805.5 m² of sidewalk pours.
• Pavement rehab work:
• 17 locations with 346,536 m² paved
• Micro surfacing work:
• 17 locations with 61,307 m² microsurfaced
• Crack sealing work:
• 4 locations completed.
• Sarcee Trail pavement rehab included new slope drainage work, removal of WBeam barrier which was replaced with High Tension Cable Barrier and the use of a Glass Fibre Grid on a section of the roadway.