Marda Loop construction deadline extended to 2025

The City of Calgary has announced that construction work on the Marda Loop redevelopment will continue until the summer of 2025.

The previous schedule for the renovation of 33rd and 34th avenues saw construction completed this year.

“I'm disappointed,” said Bob van Wegen, executive director of the Marda Loop Business Improvement District.

“The full completion of the project is highly anticipated later this year.”

Van Wegen is encouraging Calgarians to continue road work to support businesses in the community, which has been hit hard by traffic declines.

“We will fulfill the construction schedule given to us as much as possible,” he said. “Marda Loop is a great place to visit even when it's under construction.”

The project area extends from Crowchild Trail SW at 33rd Avenue to 19th Street and from Crowchild Trail at 34th Avenue to 18th Street.

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

Drivers will face detours

Sections of 33rd and 34th avenues east of 22nd Street will remain open to one-way traffic until August, the city announced Friday at a community information session.

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

At this time, alternate sidewalks will be closed on 22nd Street.

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

The Main Streets project aims to create spaces that attract visitors and prioritize the pedestrian experience.

A wider sidewalk, new street lights, benches and bike racks will be installed along 33rd and 34th avenues.

The city is also creating “curbs,” or crosswalks, at intersections to reduce pedestrian traffic.

In addition, it creates spaces for markets and other public events.

City of Calgary construction project manager Colin Chapman said crews will begin streetscape construction this month after months of shallow engineering work.

“This area hasn't been restored in a long time,” Chapman said. “We're creating this … environment where you don't just drive by or drive by, you want to stay longer.”

“It was a nightmare”

Jay Haskin, chef at Boogie's Burgers, said he was “thrown back” when he learned construction would continue into next year.

“It was a nightmare. “Because when they block this road… it completely negates pedestrian traffic,” he said.

“It disrupted the whole area.”

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

“It's an interesting thing that we're going to get,” he said. “We're optimistic that this will have a big impact on the community when it's done.”

Siobhan Nadeau, manager of a consignment store on 34th Avenue, said her store usually stays “pretty busy” because of where construction crews are working, but parking is a major issue.

“They don't park anywhere. So how does anyone shop or live here?'

“You can do better things with your money… I don't know why we need big sidewalks,” he said.

Chapman said the city is working to get a permit to use nearby vacant lots as temporary parking while the project continues.

It also said it plans to provide $5,000 in eligible grants to affected businesses in the second quarter of 2024 and will continue to check in with business owners.