Southeast BRT completion spells relief for International Avenue businesses
Dan McGarvey | CBC News | Posted: November 17, 2018 12:34 AM | Last Updated: November 19, 2018
BRT construction along 17th Avenue S.E. had local restaurants and businesses hurting
Business owners along International Avenue are celebrating the end of a nightmarish 1½ years of construction outside their businesses.
A new transitway of dedicated bus lanes was constructed along the middle of 17th Avenue S.E., beginning in May 2017, leaving businesses struggling with customers finding it difficult to navigate the construction or staying away altogether.
As well as creating one of three new bus rapid transit routes in the city, the work also includes a broader makeover for International Avenue with wider sidewalks, new landscaping, lighting and public art at all of the local BRT stops.
While some work continues to tie up loose ends along 17th Avenue, local businesses are glad to see the end of construction signs, confusion and traffic snarls.
"It was hard, a little bit hard," said Kartini Casdam, owner of the Indonesia Kitchen restaurant.
"My customers, lots come from the northwest and deep south and they found it so difficult, and lots of the them are elderly, so I found we were down in business," said Casdam.
"I have a big hope and I think business is going to be great for everybody here now. Everybody was so patient and I think it's worth it. I'm really excited," Casdam said.
At times during construction, there was no parking or sidewalks outside businesses, with some reporting their takings had been cut in half and some forced to lay off staff to survive.
"It was a very tough time for all businesses," said Sam Elkadri, owner of The Desert Pita & Grill, which serves kebabs and Lebanese food.
"We are so happy, finally. We were waiting a long time, over a year-and-a-half," said Elkadri.
"Seventeenth Avenue will be very important in Calgary here now. I was waiting for a long time for this to happen, and thank God finally it's done," said Elkadri.
The work to upgrade 17th Avenue beyond the BRT route and stations has been more than 20 years in the making, according the International Avenue BRZ.
"It's quite monumental. Two years and there was a complete and utter redesign of the street, including underground utilities and everything," said Alison Karim-McSwiney.
"A number of businesses knew it was coming but the reality is when it does hit it's still a bit of a shock and no question it did impact them," said Karim-McSwiney, who says traffic dropped considerably from the usual 42,000 vehicles per day along the strip.
While seven business closed their doors during the construction phase, Karim-McSwiney says 16 new businesses opened.
"The ones that closed, there were some that were retired and some, frankly, were struggling to begin with, and it was the final nail in the coffin for some of them," she said.
The street was originally designed for cars but the upgraded version is now walkable, accommodating bicycles and making it easier for people to explore via transit.
Another new feature is drivers can now make legal U-turns along the busy strip, improving access to businesses.
Karim-McSwiney hopes the new BRT connection will see more urban explorers coming to check out 17th Avenue's rich international culinary district and specialty stores.
"It's a huge improvement for everyone," she said.
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