City unveils design of new pedestrian bridge over Macleod Trail to Chinook Centre

The city has revealed the design of a new pedestrian bridge that will stretch over Macleod Trail right into the food court at Chinook mall. It is expected to help solve some of the woes of one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in Calgary.

Drawings show escalators and elevators will help speed pedestrians up and over busy roadway

Scott Dippel · CBC News · Posted: Aug 19, 2016 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 19, 2016

An artist's rendering of the new pedestrian bridge over Macleod Trail at Chinook Mall, as seen from the northeast. (City of Calgary)

The city has unveiled the design for a new pedestrian bridge on Macleod Trail by Chinook Centre.

Construction on the new span over the intersection of Macleod Trail and 61st Avenue will start next month.

The covered bridge will resolve several headaches at the intersection, which is one of the busiest for pedestrian crossings in the city.

The city says roughly 2,000 pedestrians cross this intersection near Chinook mall everyday. (Scott Dippel/CBC)

"It will be a vast improvement to the intersection," said Jason Lin with the city's transportation infrastructure department.

"It'll help with the traffic for vehicles and for pedestrians and provide a safe, convenient and accessible crossing of Macleod Trail."

Walkway to open next year

When the new bridge opens next year, Lin said the city will close the level crossing for pedestrians on Macleod Trail.

He said 2,000 pedestrians cross the nine lanes of traffic in that crosswalk on Macleod Trail each day.

Renderings of the new bridge show it will include escalators and elevators at each end, allowing full and quick access for crossing Macleod Trail.

The city is partnering with Cadillac Fairview, owners of Chinook Centre, to fund the $13-million project. (City of Calgary)

The city is partnering with the owner of Chinook, Cadillac Fairview, on the project.

The portion of the bridge on city land will cost $13 million — half of which will be paid by the mall's owner.

Project to cost city $6.5M

Cadillac Fairview will cover the entire cost of the pedestrian bridge over its land. It also plans to have a new entrance to the mall where the pedestrian span will enter the building near the food court.

Brad Nettnay, who crosses the busy intersection a few times a week, is pleased a new bridge is coming.

"I think it's way more safe — 100 times more safe," he said.