Traffic detoured for paving, redevelopment project

Drivers who use Calgary's 14th Street S.W. flyover to Glenmore Trail will need a lot more patience this weekend as the road is repaved. Then it will be the turn of motorists heading downtown who use the Langevin Bridge, which will be closed for the rest of August.

The flyover is shut down until 6 a.m. Monday. The average 70,000 cars which use the route daily are being rerouted along Heritage Drive to Elbow Drive to access westbound Glenmore Trail.

As vehicles slowed to a crawl, the city defended the closure.

"The ramp is already congested," said Ian Norris, director of transportation infrastructure for the City of Calgary. "So even if we closed one lane at a time, we'd be in there for three to four weeks with backups everyday. This is the usual short-term pain, long-term gain."

Langevin Bridge closes starting Monday

Drivers going downtown beginning on Monday should expect tie-ups as the southbound lane on the Langevin Bridge is shut down until Aug. 31.

Work on redeveloping the East Village, the rundown area east of City Hall, is behind the closure.

The project, which aims to restore four heritage buildings and build a pathway from Eau Claire to Lindsay Park as part of revitalizing the area, will be replacing 100-year-old water and sewer pipes during the closure.

The latest East Village makeover, estimated to cost about $150 million, was approved by city council last year.

Drivers going downtown from westbound Memorial Drive are advised to use the 4th Avenue flyover and the lower deck of the Centre Street Bridge. As well, southbound traffic will be able to use the right lane of the 5th Avenue flyover.

Pedestrians will still be able to use the west side of the Langevin Bridge.

Meanwhile, Edmonton Trail between 15th and 16th Avenues is expected to reopen this weekend, three weeks ahead of schedule.