Timeline for Marda Loop construction extended into 2025

The City of Calgary has announced construction work for the redesign of an area in Marda Loop is expected to continue until the summer of 2025.

A previous timeline for the revamp of 33rd and 34th Avenues S.W. had construction wrapping up this year.

"I'm disappointed," said Bob van Wegen, executive director of the Marda Loop Business Improvement Area.

"There was a great desire to have the complete project done at the end of this year."

Van Wegen is urging Calgary residents to continue braving the roadwork to support businesses in the community, which have been hit hard by declining traffic.

"We will make the best of the construction schedule we're given," he said. "Marda Loop is really a fantastic place to visit even under construction."

The project area runs from Crowchild Trail S.W. to 19th Street on 33rd Avenue and from Crowchild Trail to 18th Street on 34th Avenue.

Substantial completion of the 33rd Avenue section of the project is expected in late summer 2024.

Drivers face detours

Until August, sections of both 33rd and 34th Avenues east of 22nd Street will only be open to one-way traffic, the city said at a community information session on Friday.

No parking is available on 22nd Street between 33rd and 34th Avenues until April 23.

Alternating sidewalk closures on 22nd Street are in place during that same time.

The city says updates on detours and closures will be posted on its Marda Loop Main Streets project webpage.

An artist's rendering of what 34th Avenue S.W. might look like once the Main Streets project is finished. (City of Calgary)

The Main Streets project aims to create a space that attracts visitors and prioritizes pedestrian experiences.

Wider sidewalks, new streetlights, benches and bike racks will be installed along 33rd and 34th Avenues.

The city is also creating "curb extensions" or bump-outs at intersections to make the crossing distance shorter for pedestrians.

Additionally, it'll create plaza spaces for markets and other community events.

Construction project manager with the City of Calgary Colin Chapman said crews will start on streetscape construction this month, after months of shallow utility work.

"This area hasn't been reconstructed in a long time," said Chapman. "We're creating that … environment where you're not just driving to or driving through, you want to stay longer."

'It's been a nightmare'

Jay Haskin, a cook at Boogie's Burgers, said he was thrown "for a whirl" when he found out construction would run until next year.

"It's been a nightmare. Just because when they close this road down … it makes the foot traffic almost non-existent," he said.

"It's kind of hindered the entire area."

Rod Leonard, who owns six buildings in Marda Loop, including Gardenia Flower Boutique, said the city has done a good job communicating with businesses.

"It's an exciting thing that we're going to be getting," he said. "We're optimistic that it's going to make a great impact for the community when it's done."

Siobhan Nadeau, manager of The Clothing Bar, a consignment store on 34th Avenue, said her shop usually stays "decently busy," depending on where construction crews are working, but parking is a top concern.

"They don't continue to make any parking anywhere. So then how is anybody supposed to shop or live here?"

"There's better things you could be doing with your money ... I don't know why we need bigger sidewalks," she said.

Chapman said the city is working on getting permission to use nearby vacant land as temporary parking while the project is ongoing.

He also said it plans to provide $5,000 grants to eligible affected businesses in the second quarter of 2024, and it's checking in with business owners regularly.