Eau Claire Area Improvements construction and detours
Construction update - September 2023
Sunday Work Starting September 17 until the End of October
With fall and winter quickly approaching, we will need to complete work on Sundays, in addition to our current Monday-Saturday work schedule. Sunday work will commence on Sunday, September 17 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and will continue through to the end of October (pending weather and resources).
We will do our best to mitigate and control additional dust and noise from construction while our crews are working. Despite areas looking complete, we will need to keep them closed to maintain safety for the public and workers. We will open these areas to the public as soon as we are able to.
Sandblasting Work
Sandblasting is required to give our concrete surfaces in the Plaza a high-quality finish. This work started on September 11, and is currently on hold until Monday, September 25, 2023. We anticipate that the sandblasting work will be completed on September 25, pending any weather or mechanical disruptions.
Downtown Flood Barrier Eau Claire Promenade Fully Open
The final sections of the Eau Claire Promenade are complete. This means that the delineated walking and wheeling pathways from Jaipur Bridge to Centre Street are now open.
With the completion of the Downtown Flood Barrier and Eau Claire Promenade, Calgary’s downtown communities are protected by a continuous flood wall spanning from the Peace Bridge to the Reconciliation Bridge. After three years of construction, the completion of the Eau Claire Area Improvement projects, which include the new Jaipur Bridge and Centre Street Pedestrian Ramps, is a major milestone for Downtown Calgary and the Eau Claire area.
On behalf of the Eau Claire Area Improvements team, a special thank you to the community for their support and patience over the past three years of construction.
Eau Claire Plaza detour
The Eau Claire Plaza site remains closed for construction until 2025. Please use the pathway connections at 2 Street S.W. or 5 Street S.W. to access the Eau Claire Promenade and Bow River Pathway.
Getting around Eau Claire
The City of Calgary is looking at the transportation network in and around Eau Claire to understand where people need to go and how we can make it easier, safer, and more accessible for everyone, whether you travel by foot, bike, bus or car.
Eau Claire is already a very walkable neighbourhood, with good connections to top destinations like the shops and restaurants. RiverWalk and its pathway network make it easy to connect to neighbouring communities like East Village, Chinatown, Downtown West, Sunnyside, and Beltline.
Detours
The detour map shows recommended detours for walking and wheeling in Eau Claire to maintain comfort, access and predictability.
Creating safe connections
To maintain safe access to the pathways and cycle network within the city, detours will connect people walking and wheeling along the Bow River Pathway from the West Eau Claire area to RiverWalk in Chinatown and East Village, and the downtown cycle track. Signage will be posted through the construction area; please follow the signs.
Maintaining Access to Businesses and the Community
Access to the businesses and residents along Riverfront Avenue is vital to the community. The driving lanes, loading zones and signage will be adjusted to accommodate a multi-use pathway. This detour allows safer access and travel for people walking and wheeling along Riverfront Avenue.
Managing the construction zone
At The City of Calgary, we pride ourselves on building a great place to live and a great place to make a life. We know that construction can be disruptive and can feel counter to those goals. Our project managers and contractors have extensive experience in this area. They use lessons learned from previous projects to find new, alternative, and better ways to mitigate the direct impact on Calgarians.
The safety and wellbeing of staff, contractors and the community is an utmost priority for The City.
What to expect
The construction work hours for the Eau Claire Area Improvements Program are Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. However, starting Sunday, September 17 until the end of October, additional work will be completed on Sundays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- An increase in on-site construction activity, including construction crews, vehicles and heavy equipment.
- Pathway and sidewalk closures and detours along the Bow River Pathway Network and surrounding areas ensure pedestrians and cyclists can travel safely through the area and still access their destinations.
- To complete the sidewalk and concrete work in the Plaza and Promenade, crew will be in the area doing sand blasting. We do our best to mitigate and control the dust produced but encourage area residents and businesses to close windows and doors to reduce potential exposure to dust.
- An increase in truck and equipment traffic accessing the construction site(s) and surrounding areas.
- Material removal and delivery, as well as on-site flaggers to help direct traffic and pathway users.