'It was so cool': Calgarians watch demolition of Stampede LRT platform
If you’re northbound on Macleod Trail into Calgary’s downtown you’ll notice a slight delay in traffic this weekend but also the notable absence of the Plus-15 bridge and elevated portion of the Victoria Park/Stampede LRT station.
The pedestrian bridge was brought down Friday night and construction continues on the spiral red staircases leading into Stampede Park from Macleod Trail.
“It was so cool,” says Richard Jacobson. “It looked like Transformers. The excavators were just tearing the ramp right up and I was just like, wow!”
The construction is part of the Rivers District master plan which is a 20-year vision for east Victoria Park which includes new amenities like the new event centre, BMO expansion and a new Stampede retail destination.
“The fundamental premise of that plan is to get more people, Calgarians and others, to come into this area. We have a huge part of this city that’s been under-utilized,” says Kate Thompson, the president and CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).
CTrain and transit users can now access the platform by two barrier-free at-grade level crossings that were unveiled earlier this week.
“It has been 40 years since the community has been able to access Stampede Park directly from the key gateway of 17th Avenue,” said Calgary Stampede CEP Joel Crowley in a release.
Pre-pandemic, close to 13,000 people used the station everyday and planners say the changes shortens the distance for pedestrians seven-fold.
“Users as they’re coming through are going to see the first hand view of the construction but the amount of actual station closures is actually quite small,” says Thompson.
There were slight delays in traffic Saturday due to the construction in the area however many nearby businesses didn’t notice an impact.
“As of now I don’t see any impact or any traffic problems but however potentially eventually we’ll have some impacts,” says Jason Kim with SnowCapz Cafe. “In a long time it will be good for the community since we’ll have the new arena and new buildings so it’ll be a good plan for this southeast community downtown.”
During the construction, the city say transit service will take place with the exception of five long closures over weekend periods.
Plans also include work to begin on a temporary station in spring 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.