CALGARY – Construction on the long-awaited west leg of the LRT gets underway today — kicking off three years of headaches for commuters travelling in the city’s west end.
Lane closures on westbound Bow Trail — during the day to start, but becoming permanent by March 1 — are the first roadwork needed to accommodate the major infrastructure project.
"We know that there’s going to be impacts, there’s no way around it," said Ron Goodfellow, who lives just off Bow Trail. "We don’t know exactly what they’re going to do, but we certainly are aware of the issue."
The nature of the LRT build — 8.4 kilometres of track running from the downtown west to 69th Street along both Bow Trail and 17th Avenue S.W. — means the two major east-west connectors in that side of the city will be affected at the same time.
Ed Reuther, past president of the Wildwood community association, said anyone needing to get downtown will be caught in the construction.
"Your choices are extremely limited," he said of alternatives. "I’m sure there’s some hesitation about what we’re going to be faced with, exactly where this is going to lead us. We don’t know until we get there."
Christian Cormier, spokesman for the west LRT, agrees the work will be disruptive.
"We don’t want people to think it won’t have an impact because it will," he said. "It may be worth considering using an alternate route or other measures of transportation, transit or car pool."
"But it’s better to have this intense work for a shorter term than drag it out for six years," said Cormier.
Goodfellow, who handles development and traffic issues for the Shaganappi community association, is concerned drivers will use the community as a shortcut, noting traffic congestion along 14th Avenue when bridge work was being done on Bow Trail last year.
He said he hopes the city will continue to talk with the neighbourhoods about problems, what’s working and what isn’t.
Starting today, westbound Bow Trail will be reduced to two lanes between 24th Street and 33rd Street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting March 1 that closure will be in place around the clock, until the fall of 2011.
Also on March 1, the left-turning lanes on 17th Avenue between 33rd Street and 39th Street will be shut down until the fall of 2011, although left turns will still be permitted.
With construction on the line taking place until trains start running in late 2012, parts of those two routes will be closed at various points.
The massive project includes building new westbound Bow Trail lanes because the tracks will run up the middle of the road; constructing an elevated guideway near Bow and Crowchild Trails; digging a tunnel along 33rd Street and 17th Avenue; a trench at the 45th Street and 17th Avenue intersection; and an interchange at 17th Avenue and Sarcee Trail.
As well, stations will be built along the LRT line.
"It’s short-term pain for long-term gain," said Ald. John Mar, who represents communities at the eastern end of the line. "Will there be congestion? Yes there will be. Is this part of an evolving city? Of course it is.
"Unfortunately, this growth and progress impacts people’s lives."
Cormier said the westlrt.caweb-site
will be continually updated with traffic information and meetings are being held with community associations along the routes.
Council has approved $1.2 billion in program funding for the west leg LRT project.
kguttormson@theherald. canwest.com
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