CALGARY – Experts are suggesting a portion of Calgary’s new Green Line LRT should include a tunnel under the Bow River.
The city had identified five potential routes the project could take as it transitions from the downtown core to the city’s north, which requires crossing the Bow River.
WATCH: Options for getting Calgary’s Green Line LRT across the Bow River and into the beltline
On Monday, members of the Green Line LRT project team revealed their preferred route, which includes a deep tunnel under the river, dubbed Option D. The entire line is estimated to cost between $4 and $5 billion, which could include $500 million for the underground tunnel portion.
The route means the Green Line LRT would run underground from the Beltline, under 2 Street S.W. and the Bow River, resurfacing at approximately 20 Avenue and Centre Street North.
“While the underground option was the highest ranked in the evaluation process, further analysis is required before the project team takes a formal recommendation to Council within the next year,” the City of Calgary said in a news release.
The route the Green Line will take in the Beltline has yet to be determined.
The City of Calgary will undergo a similar evaluation process for that portion of the project, seeking public input.
The city will be hosting an interactive installation at Olympic Plaza between April 18 and 28, as well as several pop-up events.
The Green Line will be 40 kilometres long, winding from North Pointe to Seton and doubling the size of the existing LRT network. It’s estimated the Green Line LRT will serve an estimated 41 million passengers annually.
– With files from David Boushy