Construction underway for 7 Street South and 4 Avenue South

The first phase of a multi-faceted construction project in Downtown Lethbridge is now underway.

It consists of three main components:

• Watermain renewal along 7 Street South from 3 Avenue South to 6 Avenue South
• Pavement rehabilitation along 4 Avenue South and 7 Street South
• Protected cycling lanes along 4 Avenue South from west of Scenic Drive South to Stafford Drive South, and along 7 Street South between 3 Avenue South and 7 Avenue South

The waterline installation on 7 Street South between 3 Avenue South and 4 Avenue South will be starting today, August 9. This will include a full road closure.

Businesses on 7 Street will be open throughout construction. Signage will be placed on sidewalks letting shoppers know the area is open for business, with sidewalks remaining open throughout the duration of the project.

All work is anticipated to be completed by the end of this construction season, weather permitting.

Construction for the overall project will happen in phases to lessen the impact to businesses, as well as keep ample parking open for customers to be able to access their favourite stores. As the cycling lane project was being designed, it offered an opportunity to complete a much-needed watermain renewal on 7 Street South in addition to pavement rehabilitation throughout the project limits.

“We are being fiscally responsible and lessening the inconvenience to businesses by completing these two projects at once,” says Crystal Scheit, Urban Revitalization Manager. “It means we won’t be digging up the roadway a few years after we have paved and installed the cycling lanes – this also means less construction time in front of businesses. As different businesses have different busy times of the year, there is no perfect time to have our roadways under construction. But we also know that having the watermain break unexpectedly during winter and cutting off the water supply is also inconvenient, too.”

This project was recommended in the Cycling Master Plan, adopted by Lethbridge City Council on July 17, 2017. The Cycling Corridors Functional Planning Study, adopted by Council on April 6, 2020, recommended short-term cycling infrastructure along 4 Avenue South and 7 Street South to connect Downtown Lethbridge with the existing pathway and bike boulevard network.

“This project will help to add value to the adjacent businesses by improving the 100-year-old infrastructure that is in the ground, resurfacing the road with new asphalt, improving many of the existing wheelchair ramps along the way providing multi-modal transportation into the downtown core,” says Bryce Dudley, Senior Transportation Project Administrator.

“While the current construction may cause inconvenience for a short while, we are so excited to realize the project once complete,” says Sarah Amies, Executive Director for the Downtown BRZ. “An extension to the already significant bike lane feature across the city will further encourage people to consider alternative transportation when visiting the Downtown. The proactive enhancements to pavement and water mains are also necessary as we keep up with increased demand for service in the Downtown.”

Information on this project was available at the most recent Community Conversation, held at the ENMAX Centre in January, to allow businesses and the public to see plans and chat with City representatives. More project information and background are available at Get Involved Lethbridge.

The overall project is being funded through existing operating budgets, from the City’s Capital Improvement Program and from external grants.