Stephen Avenue
Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project
New Look. New Feel. New Stephen Avenue.
Stephen Avenue is getting a major upgrade! Our goal is to create a vibrant, lively place where people can work, shop, eat, and enjoy arts and culture all year round – right in the heart of Calgary.
Stephen Avenue has been an important part of downtown for decades. Now, it's time to refresh it to match Calgary’s bold and energetic vibe. This project will help boost the local economy, bring more people downtown, and make the area more welcoming for businesses, residents, and visitors.
Rendering: Stephen Ave. 100 block SE, Plus 15
Rendering: Stephen Ave. 100 block SE
Rendering: Stephen Ave. 100 block SW
Rendering: Stephen Ave. Centre Street event
Rendering: Stephen Ave. Glenbow intersection
Rendering: Stephen Ave. Telus CC
Click to enlarge the rendering images
Related links
- Support local economy
- Greater Downtown Plan
- Plan your trip - navigating Calgary traffic and detours
The vision for a new Stephen Avenue
The Stephen Avenue Revitalization project will bring important and visible upgrades to this historic street in Calgary. Under the ground, old infrastructure like water pipes, electrical lines, and stormwater systems will be replaced with modern ones to improve reliability and sustainability for the future.
Above ground, the worn-out street surfaces will also be renewed. These changes will make the area easier to access, more flexible, and better prepared to support activities all year long, including dining, shopping, and special events.
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Construction updates: 2025–2026
Bringing the vision to life
Construction for the Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project kicks off July 14, 2025, immediately following the Calgary Stampede. Here’s what Calgarians can expect:
2025: Central zone & utility work
The focus in 2025 will be on:
- Replacing underground utilities: water, storm, power, and lighting
- Installing soil cells to support healthy tree growth
- Beginning surface upgrades in the Center of the Avenue.
Pedestrian access to maintain mobility:
- 3-metre-wide pedestrian access paths will be maintained on the north or south side of the street
- Mid-block crossings will allow movement across Stephen Avenue
- Cycling and walking routes may shift during active work zones
- Phased lane closures on 1 St. SE and Centre Street throughout 2025
- Note: Utility work on 9 Avenue and Center St by ATCO, Enmax, and CDHI is not part of this project but timelines are being coordinated to minimize disruptions.
Centre Street enhancements
- Streetscape upgrades on the east side of Centre Street (between 8 Ave. and 9 Ave.) will be completed in 2025
- Replacement of a 1910-era water main between 8 Ave. and 7 Ave. on Centre Street will be completed in 2025
- Phased lane closures on 1 St. SE and Centre Street throughout 2025
Work hours
- Standard: 7 AM - 6 PM, Monday to Saturday
- Extended hours and possible long weekend work will be required for Utility Tie-Ins and work within intersections
2026: Edge zone completion
Work will shift to the edge zones - areas adjacent to building frontages - while pedestrian access continues through the completed Central Zone.
- Access to businesses will be maintained
- Patios will be open and active in time for Stampede 2026
- Remaining finishing touches, like tree planting and site furnishings, will wrap up by fall, just ahead of the Glenbow Museum’s Grand Opening
During construction
- Access to businesses will be maintained
- No patios on the 100 Block SE
- Expect temporary sidewalk detours and reduced vehicle access
- Noise, dust, and vibration will be present, with mitigations in place
- Pedestrian and cycling routes may change
Keeping you informed and involved
We’re taking a sequenced approach to construction:
- Weekly update meetings with nearby businesses
- Coordination with partners like the Calgary Downtown Association and Tourism Calgary to spread the word
- Emergency access will always be maintained
Most importantly, we’re calling on all Calgarians to support the incredible local businesses on Stephen Avenue during the revitalization of Stephen Ave.
Your visits and purchases make a lasting difference!
Project timeline
- Revisioning of Stephen Avenue began in 2019
- Citizens and stakeholders were engaged to understand challenges and opportunities and define what success looks like.
- A public realm study was created that provides a vision and roadmap for the future of Stephen Avenue.
- The project moved from planning to doing by testing ideas from the public realm study to better understand and measure the impacts of change along the Avenue.
- Ideas/pilots included a pollinator garden, seating clusters, the Winter City Design Competition, and more.
- The Streetscape Master Plan is a comprehensive design document that guides how the Avenue will look, feel, and be experienced by Calgarians and visitors.
- Ideas and feedback from Calgarians, along with technical analysis, best practices and policy review informed the conceptual streetscape master plan.
- The project team will finalize the design and create the construction drawings.
- Construction budget confirmation will determine how and when the project moves to implementation.
- As the implementation plan continues to be developed, impacts and opportunities to align with adjacent projects are considered, including those in-progress and planned.
Why this project matters to Calgary
Refreshing Stephen Avenue is a big part of The City’s plan to make downtown a better place for everyone. It supports Calgary’s goals to build a strong, people-friendly, and successful downtown.
Want to learn more?
See Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan – Roadmap to Reinvention
For the latest updates on the Stephen Avenue project, stay connected with us here.
Full 2023 Streetscape Master Plan
How the community helped shape the design
Phase 1 Engagement:
We asked Calgarians to tell us what they liked and what could be better on Stephen Avenue. Their input helped shape the future vision.
Phase 2 Engagement:
We shared design ideas and asked for feedback on what would inspire people to spend more time on the Avenue.