Next stage of Imagine Jasper Avenue project construction to begin next year
CBC
The Imagine Jasper Avenue project is inching closer to being fully realized as the City of Edmonton seeks out a contractor to deliver the second phase of the project, which covers 114th Street to 124th Street.
The revitalization project started in 2015 and includes two lanes of motor vehicle traffic in each direction, shorter pedestrian crossing distances at each street along Jasper Avenue, wider sidewalks, landscaping, benches, and bike racks.
Phase 1 of the project from 109th Street to 114th Street was completed in 2021. The city is currently doing utility relocations for the second phase.
Satya Gadidasu, project manager with the city, told CBC extensive consultation was done to design the revamp.
"Consultation was done to understand public competing interest of active modes versus transit versus bike lanes, and still maintaining the commuter traffic services to get in and out of downtown."
The city said the goal is to restore and elevate the avenue as a main street in the city.
Another project, Jasper Avenue New Vision, which focused on Thornton Court, was completed in 2022.
Neal LaMontagne is a faculty lecturer at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Alberta.
He said the project is a good step forward but adds he wishes it was more ambitious.
"It's very standardized, and it lacks colour. It lacks a little bit of oomph that we might need if we're going to realize Jasper's older potential as our ... premier main street," he said in an interview.
"It's sort of a backbone project. It's the type of things that you need, the physical infrastructure you need, but it's not going to create much of a catalyst effect."
Edmonton's 2023-2026 capital budget includes $263 million to build more housing, renew neighbourhoods and rehabilitate roads and city facilities.
The budget adjustment passed this summer includes $8 million more for the Imagine Jasper Avenue rehabilitation.
"This is a major project with a lot of segments with the stakeholders and business interest," Gadidasu said on why the project is split into two phases.
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