St. Julien Road Reconstruction - May 7 Update

This newsletter is for people who live in the St. Julien Road construction zone and others in Banff who have registered to learn about the project and its impact on drivers, hikers, commuters and visitors.

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

St. Julien Road asphalt removal underway.

Asphalt has been removed from St. Julien Road, preparing for excavation of water and sewer lines.

Temporary water service connections this week

All homes on St. Julien Road will have their water turned off and temporary water service connected late in the week. Homes will lose pressure and lose water service for 1 to 2 hours during the switch over. This move prepares for work to replace the aging water mains over the next 2-3 months.

Resident impact for week of May 9 - 15

All homes on St. Julien Road will have intermittent closures of driveway access this week. These homes will also have full 2-day closures preventing access to driveways this week:

136, 200 St. Julien Road (Wednesday and Thursday)
222, 226 A and B St. Julien Road (Thursday and Friday)
609 Wolf St. and 341 Grizzly St. (Thursday and Friday)
100 St. Julien Road - Banff Centre properties (Wednesday and Thursday)
Access streets and driveways will be closed based on the schedule matrix below.

St. Julien Road is closed to public access by vehicle, bicycle or by foot.

St. Julien Road will be closed until October.
Only residents who live on St. Julien Road are allowed to use the temporary walkway to access their homes, when it is safe to do so.
Residents who live on St. Julien Road will have periodic vehicle access, as identified in the matrix schedule below.
4 parking zones for local residents only are established outside the construction zone (see map below)
Access roads to St. Julien for residents will be closed periodically this week - please see schedule matrix below.

View and download the schedule matrix and map below for the impact on your home.

If you live on St. Julien and have questions, please contact us:

email stjulienroad@banff.ca
phone 403.762.1296

Schedule of Impact on Homes and Access - May 9-15

Click on schedule above to download PDF that is easier to read

Residents asked to talk with crews about daily access

The schedule identifies intermittent access closures in yellow, indicating that residents on St. Julien Road may not be able to immediately leave or enter driveways. Depending on when access is required, it might take a few extra minutes while the workers ensure its safe and equipment is clear.

Although the construction delays can be frustrating, the crews ask for residents' patience when moving in/out of the construction area. Make sure to make eye contact with a flagger or worker to ensure safety, and indicate where you are going. When leaving your residence, please walk to the end of the driveway to communicate with work crews, who will accommodate safe passage as best and as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, when driveway access is marked in red to indicate full closure, vehicle exit or entrance is not possible for up to 24 hours for that day. Please use one of the 4 parking zones established for residents only.

Click on map to download a PDF that is easier to read

Photo: Tunnel Mountain Trailhead parking lot closed

The Tunnel Mountain Trailhead parking lot is closed for the remainder of the summer, and will be used by the construction crews. The road to the trailhead is closed to the public. The lower trailhead access will be periodically closed when construction is occurring at the location.

Tunnel Mountain Trailhead Access

Hikers heading to the Tunnel Mountain Trail in the week of May 9-15 will be able to access the lower trailhead, but are required to detour south on Otter Street or Grizzly Street, and north on Wolverine Street, then cross St. Julien Road when allowed by work crews, to reach the lower trailhead.

See the blue line on the schedule matrix above for open/closed status of the lower trailhead.

The parking lot at the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead on St. Julien Road is closed until October to allow storage of equipment, materials, and work crew resources.

Hikers can cross the Banff Centre campus to Tunnel Mountain Drive and access the upper trailhead. Download visitor poster with two hiker routes to Tunnel Mountain Trail (PDF).

The lower trailhead located on St. Julien Road will not be accessible for some periods of construction. Routes to use when the lower trailhead is closed:

the best route to the Tunnel Mountain Trail and Banff Centre is to walk the Ken Madsen Path behind the Old Cemetery (accessed from Wolverine St. or Buffalo St.) up to Banff Centre, and then cross the campus to Tunnel Mountain Drive (see map below)
alternatively, hikers can use Buffalo Street to Surprise Corner and Tunnel Mountain Drive, and on to the upper Tunnel Mountain Trailhead

Banff Centre access

Pedestrian access to Banff Centre will be maintained on the Ken Madsen Path behind the cemetery, accessed from Wolverine Street or Buffalo Street. Vehicle access is limited to Buffalo Street and Tunnel Mountain Drive.

Signs are installed for vehicle and pedestrian detours. Pedestrian signs have a link and QR code to access the project website and a text number for visitor assistance provided by BLLT.

Project Overview

The development will follow the concept design approved by Banff Town Council in 2021, which followed a comprehensive public engagement program with local Banff residents. This reconstruction project will:

replace and realign the aging 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 - the trail will be shared by pedestrians, hikers and cyclists heading uphill
improve the storm drainage for the road
resurface the length of the street
enhance safety at 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
improve the entrance intersection at Banff Centre
The work will create a safer street for residents and visitors, and a longer lifecycle of the entire infrastructure below and above ground. It will become a more enjoyable route to the Tunnel Mountain trailhead and the street will drain better and snow clearing will be improved.

Preparations for road excavation to replace water and sewer systems.

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.

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

For more information:

email stjulienroad@banff.ca
phone 403.762.1296
web banff.ca/stjulienroad