17th Avenue makeover work resumes in southwest Calgary

The next phase of the city's overhaul of 17th Avenue southwest gets underway Monday as crews prepare to dig up the stretch between Eighth Street and 10A Street.

Pavement removal and excavation is expected to start mid-week, once crews have installed all the necessary detour signs and fencing, the City of Calgary's project website says.

Since 2017, crews have been working to upgrade the sidewalks and replace the underground utilities along the avenue including power, gas, telecommunications, water, and sanitary and then upgrade the roadway and streetscape from Macleod Trail to 14th Street S.W.

The closure from Eighth Street and 10A Street is expected to last about two weeks. After that, crews will move westward, closing 12th Streetto 14th Street S.W.

In the final stages of construction, crews will return eastward and close10th Street to 12th Street S.W.

To help maintain access to the shops and restaurants on 17th Avenue during construction, one-way traffic on 14th Avenue and 15th Avenue will be extended to 12th Street S.W.

Sixteenth Avenue between 10th Street and 14th Street S.W. will also be converted to a two-way.

The city says the $44-million project is already more than 65 per cent complete.

Detour routes will be in effect for Calgary Transit routes 2, 6, and 7.

The city says several other transportation infrastructure projects are scheduled to be completed in 2019, including widening Glenmore Trail, Anderson Road and Bow Trail, installing five pedestrian bridges, upgrading to Crowchild Trail over the Bow River, and finishing the Southwest BRT route along 14th Street S.W.