Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

LRT station rebuild and 17 Ave extension set to achieve major construction milestone

    · 6 min read

    17 Ave S.E. Extension and Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild Project makes cutover to temporary platform; pedestrian access and station closures over long weekend

    Since beginning construction on this landmark city-building project in 2020, the 17 Ave S.E. Extension and Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild project team has been making steady progress on the enabling works that will facilitate development of a new station and roadway extension.

    This fall, with most of the enabling works completed, the team is turning its attention to the construction of the new station, which will be more accessible and better integrated into the surrounding landscape. Development of the 17 Ave S.E. extension will bring people driving, walking and cycling across Macleod Trail directly into Stampede Park for the first time.

    “The new station and extension of 17 Ave will create an important connection between Stampede Park and Calgary’s Beltline and Downtown communities, making it easier for our community to gather,” says Jim Laurendeau, Vice President, Park Planning & Development at Calgary Stampede. “We are excited for how this new connector will help create a key gateway to Stampede Park, enhance the way people experience our iconic space and how they’ll access events, conferences and gatherings at BMO Centre, GMC Stadium, the Saddledome and more, welcoming the world year-round.”

    In 2021, Calgarians saw the demolition of the ramp and +15 that connected pedestrians to Victoria Park/Stampede Station across Macleod Trail, and the opening of a new at-grade crossing at 17 Ave S.E. With the new at-grade crossing, the previous 400m pedestrian journey up the ramp and over the +15 was shortened to less than 60m straight across 17 Ave, making the trip faster and more accessible for transit users and visitors to Stampede Park alike.

    Earlier in 2022, the project team completed the new utility complex and Elbow River siding track bridge, constructed a new temporary outbound platform in the eastern lane of Macleod Trail, installed a new signal system to support temporary and permanent stations, and completed the installation of 9.5km of duct in the transit right-of-way between Erlton and Victoria Park stations.

    Now, the project team is preparing to open the temporary outbound platform that will enable transit operations and minimize disruption for transit customers through the demolition of the old station and construction of the new one.

    CMLC challenged the design and construction teams at the outset of the project to be innovative and intentional with construction phasing and delivery, and the temporary outbound platform is one example of that innovation.

    The week after the Thanksgiving long weekend, transit riders at Victoria Park/Stampede Station will board trains from side-loading platforms, using the new temporary platform outbound and the west side of the existing platform inbound. This change will remain in effect until the new permanent station, with platforms twice the size of the original and four heated shelters, is operational in late 2023.

    “We are at a very exciting point in this important and complex project,” says Kate Thompson, President and CEO of CMLC, the development manager for the project and steward of the Rivers District. “Building a project of this scale and significance in a tight right-of-way, while maintaining transit service, in the heart of one of the most active destinations for entertainment and cultural programming in the city, is a complicated matter. We’re grateful for the partnership of Calgary Stampede and Calgary Transit, as well as our consulting and construction teams lead by ISL and PCL, in planning and delivering this critical connector in the evolving Culture + Entertainment District.”

    The new station is scheduled to be operational in late 2023, with completion of sidewalks, ramps and landscaping to follow. The 17 Ave S.E. extension will be completed in coordination with the BMO Centre expansion, both of which will wrap up in 2024.

    Upcoming pedestrian, vehicle and station access impacts:

    Significant construction activity will take place on the project over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Starting on Thursday, October 6 at 7PM:

    • The Macleod Trail pedestrian crossing at 17 Ave S.E. will be closed. On Thursday night, pedestrians can access the station and Stampede Park from the 14 Ave crossing. Friday through Monday, both the 17 Ave and 14 Ave Macleod Trail crossings will be closed, and pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured to 12 Ave S.E. or 25 Ave S.E. to access Stampede Park and events at the Saddledome.
    • Northbound Macleod Trail will have additional lane closures between the Elbow River Bridge and 12 Ave SE from October 6 at 7PM to October 11 at 5AM. For the majority of the weekend, one northbound lane will remain open. Traffic delays are expected. Please use alternate routes if possible.
    • Several CTrain stations will also be closed over the long weekend to allow for routine maintenance activities at various stations along with major work on the Victoria Park/Stampede Station project. You can learn more about this planned service disruption by visiting calgarytransit.com/service-updates or via Twitter by checking out @CalgaryTransit.

    Those attending events on Stampede Park over the long weekend should give themselves extra time to get to their destinations via 12 Ave or 25 Ave S.E. Visit The C+E Access Map for real-time traffic and pedestrian access updates.

    Pedestrian + Cycling Detour through the Thanksgiving long weekend:

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