8th Street underpass construction in downtown Calgary to make area 'inviting'
East side of pedestrian walkway, as well as 1 northbound lane, closed during first phase
Construction began today on the Eighth Street S.W. underpass in downtown Calgary, causing some closures in the area.
"The east side pedestrian walkway of the Eighth Street S.W. underpass will be closed between Eighth Avenue and 10 Avenue until the enhancements on the east side are completed," said the city in a release. "During this time, pedestrians will need to use the west side pedestrian walkway. One lane of northbound vehicle traffic will also be closed during construction on the east side."
The west side of the underpass will also experience restrictions once the east side is complete.
The underpass is getting enhancements to make it safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, as roughly 8,700 people walk through it every day.
New lights, paint and art
"We are always excited about seeing improvements to the various underpasses in the centre city," said Ward 8 Coun. Evan Woolley in a release. "Underpass improvements are extremely worthwhile investments toward a safer, more inviting space for Calgarians to use."
The overhaul calls for brighter lighting, a coat of white paint, retaining wall maintenance and some public art.
"This project addresses the concerns of safety and cleanliness by not only doing the necessary maintenance but adding visual interest through design elements and public art," said Ben Barrington, centre city implementation program manager, in a release. "We want users to see this area not only as a pedestrian connection but to also enjoy the interesting artistic and design features."
A large portion of the $8.8 million project is expected to be finished by the end of the year, but will be fully completed next spring.