St. Julien Road Reconstruction - April 6 Update

This newsletter is for people who have registered to learn about the reconstruction of St. Julien Road. With the project set to start, regular updates will provide latest information.

If you know someone who may be interested in this project, please encourage them to sign up for updates on the project web page at banff.ca/stjulienroad

Project Info and Q&A Session: Thursday, April 7

As promoted in the March 28 newsletter, please register for the information and Q&A session being held tomorrow online. The session will be led by the Town's project manager and engineering coordinator, who will provide:

overview of the project, replacement of utilities, road and enhancements
information about closures such as the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead parking lot and vehicle access to St. Julien Road
what residents who live on the street can expect
impact on pedestrians going to Banff Centre or trail
the sequence of construction
how scheduling information will be provided to residents
answers to any questions

The information session is delivered over Zoom using a "webinar" function. This allows people to watch the presentation and then ask questions. The session will be recorded, but no video of participants will be visible. You must register in advance.

Thursday, April 7
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Zoom online meeting
Please click here to Register in advance for this webinar-style session

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Free firewood! Most of the tree removal work is complete and the usable pieces have been transported to the biomass facility for heating buildings in the Industrial District. Residents interested in firewood can take any remaining logs from the area in the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead parking lot, behind the BECL barricades.

Reconstruction work planned for St. Julien:

replace and realign the water and sanitary sewer pipes under the road
replace all utility connections to properties along the road
create a separated trail the full length of the road from Wolf St. to the Banff Centre intersection
improve the storm drainage for the road
resurface the length of the street
enhance St. Julien's connections to Wolverine Street and Grizzly Street
convert Wolverine Street into a one-way street off St. Julien
add stairs and better alignment for a straight pedestrian trail connecting Caribou Street and the St. Julien Trail
add more street lighting
regrade the access to St. Julien at the bottom of the hill at Wolf Street

Contractor: Bremner Engineering and Construction Ltd (BECL), based in the Bow Valley, was selected as prime construction contractor in a national open tender.

Project Manager: Stephen Allan, PMP, Engineering Coordinator, Town of Banff
P 403.762.1296

Photo of St. Julien with rendering of potential design

Rendering of concept design: the public area is widened by expanding right-of-way into areas encroached on by private property (left side), extending on the trail side, and narrowing the width of vehicle lanes to provide a sidewalk/trail running the full length of St. Julien Road.

What's next?

The renewal of St. Julien Road is an important rehabilitation of utilities below ground and significant enhancements above ground.

The work will create disruptions to residents who live on St. Julien Road, employees and visitors to Banff Centre, and hikers using the Tunnel Mountain Trail. However, the short-term disruption, through 2022, will provide immediate benefits and long-term improvements.

Work occurring the week of March 28 – April 3:

Closure of the parking lot for the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead on St. Julien Road. Although this is Banff Centre property, the institution has provided the parking lot for the construction laydown area through 2022. The lot is partially closed for equipment storage and removed trees. In late April, the lot will be completely closed to the public for storage of equipment, materials, and work crew resources.
Site preparation for road removal that starts mid-April. St. Julien Road will be closed for the full summer starting in late April. There will be no vehicle access, except residents who live on the road, and there will be planned periods when access to resident’s driveways will be closed. The surveying sticks and road markings will continue in the next few weeks.

Tunnel Mountain Trailhead
When the project is underway, access to the trailhead will be maintained as long as it is safe to do so, but the access route will be changed to Wolverine Street and a brief stretch on St. Julien before crossing over. For some periods of construction this summer, access to the trail will be possible only from Tunnel Mountain Road and the upper trailhead.

Banff Centre
Access to the Banff Centre will be maintained on the Ken Madsen path behind the cemetery, for pedestrians, instead of along St. Julien. Vehicle access will be limited to Buffalo Street.

For a full project schedule, please visit banff.ca/StJulienRoad

The 2021 public engagement helped select design options for the 2022 construction. Info on the public input and recommendations to Banff Town Council are available at banffviewpoints.ca/StJulien.