Downtown intersection to be closed for Green Line construction

 A major intersection in Calgary's East Village is closed for work related to the Green Line LRT.

The intersection of 11th Avenue and 4th Street Southeast will be blocked off for the next few months, so utilities can be relocated before the train line is built through the area. The closure also means vehicle access will be restricted under the 4th Street underpass, however pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained.

It's only one on a long list of jobs currently underway as part of the Green Line project.

"Green Line construction has been going very well, we certainly appreciate that the construction detours are disruptive, but we're making great progress, we're getting ready for main construction in 2024, so this is foundational work," said Wendy Tynan, Green Line Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations and Communications.

Signage will be in place throughout the work to help direct drivers to surrounding roads, and pedestrians are asked to look out for any sidewalk closures as well. 

While it will cause inconveniences to people through most of the fall, there is excitement among officials over how this work will help shape the future of the culture and entertainment district.

"There's more than $600 million worth of city-building projects underway in the district already," said Emma Stevens, Director of Communications and External Relations with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation. "Having the Green Line LRT under construction in the area at the same time is very exciting. It's a great sign of what's to come for the district."

Maneuvering around the closure

With events still happening at other venues around Stampede Park, and the return of hockey on the horizon at the Saddledome, many people will still need to find ways to get around the blockage.

Stevens advised people to use transit, as there is still ample access from the Victoria Park/Stampede and Erlton LRT stations, and drivers can still park at lots along 9th Avenue or a block away from the closure at 11th Avenue and 5th Street. 

The area can also be accessed more easily via the 4th Avenue flyover to the north, or 25th Avenue in the south.

"This is a really interesting district among comparable districts, in that we're doing such a high volume of construction in and around active event venues including the Saddledome and BMO Centre. We have more than 750 crews on site every day," said Stevens.

As construction delays will become a common feature for the foreseeable future as a result of Green Line construction, people are asked to be patient and plan their trips ahead of time so they aren't surprised by closures such as this.

"A lot of construction in the downtown and the Beltline and so that will be underway through the year and into next year as well, too," said Tynan. "So we just encourage Calgarians to leave lots of time, head to Calgary.ca/GreenLine, checking lots of social media feeds too, and just making sure they're prepared for what's coming up."

The work at the 11th Avenue and 4th Street intersection should be complete before the end of the year.