The Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project is a major investment to renew one of Calgary’s most iconic downtown avenues into a safer, more inclusive, and flexible avenue and will replace critical underground utilities that are up to 100 years old. The goal is to create a more vibrant, inclusive, and flexible main street that serves residents, visitors, and businesses year-round.  

The project will ultimately revitalise Stephen Avenue from 1 St. S.E. to 11 St. S.W. Phase 1 of the project, from 1 St. S.E. to Centre Street, will begin construction on July 14. Future phases of the project are not yet scheduled.

The project was launched in 2019, with public engagement. A Public Realm Study and Streetscape Master Plan were developed, and design concepts were tested through pilot installations between 2021 and 2022. Final design work was completed in 2025, and additional updates to the design have been made this year through consultation with businesses.

The Phase 1 of the construction will begin on Monday, July 21, 2025, starting with work on the east half of the 100 block S.E. The original construction start date of July 14 was postponed in response to concerns raised by some business owners about potential operational impacts during Calgary’s busy peak summer season. In response, The City worked directly with affected business owners and has developed a revised approach that supports both construction progress and business continuity.  

The construction is expected to be substantially complete by June 2026, with the avenue fully available ahead of the 2026 Calgary Stampede.

Future phases of the project, along the remaining blocks west of Centre Street, are not yet scheduled. Future phases will be advanced through further engagement with businesses and residents, Council direction, and available funding.

We have worked with Stephen Avenue businesses to develop a construction plan that minimizes business impact. However, we continued to hear from some business owners that they remain concerned about how construction would impact their business operations. In response, we decided to delay construction start to continue working with businesses to  solution that will help further reduce business impacts during construction. 

Under the updated plan, construction in 2025 will begin on July 21 with work focused on the east side of the 100 S.E. block between 1 Street S.E. and Centre Street. Beginning September 2, construction will expand to the west side of the block and critical utility upgrades along Centre Street will also be completed in the fall of 2025. This approach allows most restaurant patios to remain open through September 1, 2025.

Beneath Stephen Avenue lies aging water, power, and stormwater infrastructure systems that are due to be replaced.  Phase 1 construction from 1 Street S.E. to Centre Street was planned to upgrade these systems, and also to align with the Glenbow Museum’s completion in 2026.

Construction was scheduled to begin after Stampede 2025 to avoid disruptions during Calgary’s busiest downtown period while accomplishing important work during Calgary’s short construction season. This approach was developed in consultation with businesses along Stephen Avenue and the Calgary Downtown Association.

The timing of Phase 1 also aligns with the reopening of the Glenbow Museum, ensuring a barrier-free access to the revitalized downtown attraction. It also supports the new Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza Transformations. 

Construction was carefully planned to minimize disruption to businesses. Stephen Avenue will remain fully open to pedestrians, with clear signage and wayfinding to ensure access to all businesses and storefronts. We have been working closely with businesses along Stephen Avenue to minimize disruptions to conferences and other events.

As a pedestrian mall, public parking is not permitted in this part of Stephen Avenue.  This will remain unchanged during and after construction. However, parking is available on surrounding streets and in nearby public and private parking lots. 

To safely replace underground utilities and complete the streetscape improvements, 30 trees were planned for removal. Of these, 8 had been removed earlier and 3 were dead. Once construction is complete in 2026, 18 new trees will be planted with advanced soil cell technology to improve tree health, stormwater management, and overall greening

Between late 2019 and 2022, The City carried out several phases of public engagement for the Future of Stephen Avenue project, starting with storefront open houses, surveys, and workshops, and later shifting to virtual formats during the pandemic. Engagement efforts, including online presentations, pop-up events, and design workshops, gathered input from hundreds of Calgarians. Throughout the process, participants emphasized a vision for a safer, greener, year-round pedestrian-friendly space that supports local businesses and reduces evening vehicle traffic to enhance vibrancy and inclusivity.

Since November 2024, we have held regular meetings with Stephen Avenue businesses and services to share details on design, timelines, and construction logistics. We’ve also held a recent information session on June 25, 2025 for all interested parties and we will continue to work closely with businesses to support them throughout construction.

The budget for Phase 1 is $36.2 million. Funding for future phases (west of Centre Street) has not yet been secured, and timing will be determined later.

Stephen Avenue will remain fully open to pedestrians during construction, with clear signage and wayfinding to guide customers to all businesses and storefronts. Since November 2024, The City has been meeting regularly with affected businesses to share construction plans, timelines, and logistics. An information session was held on June 25, 2025, and the project team remains committed to minimizing disruption, including thoughtful scheduling and clear communication. All construction schedule and working hours are available on project website and will be timely updated. 

The upgrades will:

• Replace utilities (water, stormwater, lighting, power) and the surface, which will be upgraded to durable granite paving stones.   
• Provide improved power and potable water connections for activations.
• Create a safer, more attractive pedestrian experience.
• Help downtown remain a vibrant destination for residents, workers, and visitors.
• Strengthen tourism and support more events and festivals.

As part of the Stephen Avenue project, we are replacing the old, worn concrete surface with modern, durable granite pavers. These pavers will provide an attractive, contemporary look while requiring   less maintenance over time than concrete. They are textured and heat-treated to improve safety in winter conditions, providing a non-slip surface that supports accessibility for wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles, and other mobility devices.