It’s a constant interruption for pedestrians navigating through Calgary’s downtown core: improvised sidewalks to help people navigate around construction areas or concrete improvements.
In one area along 10 Street and 8 Street S.W., a plank is stretched across a gaping hole on the curb. People have to maneuver across the piece of plywood or step out into oncoming traffic to get around the curb.
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Bob Schuett works downtown and insists the temporary sidewalks are ridiculous.
“It’s negligent at the very least. I don’t know which contractor did that but they ought to be fined,” Schuett said. “I almost tripped coming across and a lady coming towards me had to balance on the edge of it. ”
But another pedestrian commonly crossing there doesn’t mind the inconvenience.
“On the whole, it’s progress,” Gary Fox said. “We are building it up and for me it’s good.”
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The City of Calgary’s road department spokesperson Chris McGeachy said crews make every effort to accommodate people and try and localize the sidewalk improvements to one side of the street.
McGeachy added inspectors try to make sure contractors follow the same guidelines.
“We’d like them to adhere to the same standards but it depends on the situation because certain projects, there might be constraints on timelines, so we try to keep pedestrian priority top of mind.”
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The councillor representing downtown says the city isn’t doing a good enough job — especially for people with mobility issues.
“Last year we took a number of people from the construction industry and city staff and went for a walk-about through downtown in mobility devices — and it was very inaccessible,” Druh Farrell said.
If you see a concerning problem spot, call 3-1-1 to report it.