Extreme wind notwithstanding, this was the easiest walk along this part of the route that I've done. Most of the major construction work is done now, so most road and pedestrian routes are restored. The lack of signage at Sarcee & 17th is incredible. While walking westward, a vehicle stopped beside me and the woman inside didn't know how to get to NB Sarcee. I told her, she did a U turn and was on her way. The interchange isn't complete, but more temporary signage is required.
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^The more I think about what the "official" story on the delayed opening, the more I think it is still the City-managed 11th Street West (Kerby) Station that is to blame. Utility companies dragging their feet on moving lines was what was blamed, but given that there are no visible signs of a holdup anywhere else except that critical block between 10th and 11th Streets. The cause may in fact be from utility relocation, but the affect seem to be limited to that area.
There was a lot of utility work along Sarcee Trail but that doesn't seem to have affected progress in that area of the project very much.
Stations are pretty much done, trackwork has to be well over halfway completed, signals are going up. Still lots of electrical work to do, but there is still a year left until the original opening date.
The 11 St. station is right outside my window at work. The utilities seem to be all done and have been mostly buried.
Also, I wonder if the new entrance to the Kerby Centre has something to do with the hold up--they're still working on that, though it has really come along in the last two weeks. I suspect it will be operational very soon..
so when is this supposed to be completely finished?
`Spring 2013` is when its slated to open. I personally think one of the delays is westbrook station. They currently have 1 of 4 floors done on the TOD building and progress is pretty slow. Seems like everything except 11th and WB station are going up pretty quickly.
As long as the station work is moving along, the TOD building construction can take all the time it needs. The TOD building isn't essential for the line to open anyway. Don't forget, there is a a year of construction work to be done.
Here's a week-old article. Lots of good tidbits on the the future of the Westbrook (specifically old Ernest Manning High School) lands.
Quote:
Redevelopment gathers steam
Westbrook Station parcels to be sold
By Richard White, Calgary Herald January 14, 2012
One of the biggest urban development events of 2012 could be the city's Westbrook Station land sale on the Ernest Manning High School site.
The project is just one part of the larger Westbrook Village redevelopment - a 21-hectare site that encompasses the area from Bow Trail on the north to 17th Avenue S.W. on the south; and from 33rd Street S.W. on the east and 37th Street S.W. on the west - and includes Westbrook Mall.
I recently had an interesting chat with Robert Moskovitz, manager of land servicing for the City of Calgary.
He will be overseeing the land servicing and development of four parcels of city-owned land next to the underground Westbrook LRT Station on the new west LRT leg.
The parcels are to be sold to developers in 2012. They add up to nine net acres or about three city blocks, an area smaller than Chinook or Market malls.
The Area Redevelopment Plan allows for about 2.3 million square feet of development, including residential, office, hotel, retail, restaurant, entertainment and/or medical.
[...]
Ideally, Moskovitz says the city would like to have one developer buy all four parcels, but officials will be looking for the best proposals for each site.
These will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Consistency with land use, density and architectural character.
- Commitment to sustainable/ green features.
- Approach to affordable housing.
- Proposed phasing and timing of development.
- Financial and technical capability to undertake such a development.
Can anyone provide an update as how traffic might be on Bow trail around 545 today? Going from Downtown to Westbrook mall?
If I need to get to Westbrook by say 6.15 would I have to leave downtown by 5.45?
Thanks
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Regarding the Kerby Station (the source of the road closures noted above), there will be some changes to existing LRT service before the station and the rest of the West LRT can open.
The existing 10th Street West Station, where the Northeast line train route 202 currently ends will be demolished (I've heard September), but the new station a block west (Kerby Station) will not open right away. Due to how the tracks and station currently sit at 10th Street West, the tracks and catenary (overhead power wires and poles) will need to be re-aligned and signals tied-in to the next block heading to the new West LRT line. Between the time of the old station being shut down and demolished and the new line opening up, passengers from the northeast will use 7th Street and 8th Street Stations as a terminus. The trains will then continue to where they do now and (the station platform no longer being there), operators will switch ends by using the stairs on the train cars and the train will head back to the northeast.
Things will operate like this for a few months. The new Kerby Station and West LRT will then open together.
I've also heard rumours that the line will open as originally planned in December.