This newsletter is for people who live in the St. Julien Road construction zone and anyone who has 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 at banff.ca/stjulienroad

Previous updates and other project information is available at banff.ca/stjulienroad

Asphalt paving underway on St. Julien Road.

St. Julien Road Reconstruction - October 7 Update

The asphalt crew has completed much of the roadway paving and is working on the remaining connections at private driveways and St. Julien Way intersection.

If paving is not completed today, the crews plan to complete paving on Saturday, October 8, with work approved to commence at 7:30 a.m.

Next week, the work on the pedestrian sidewalk/trail will continue with landscaping, involving excavations and heavy equipment. Hikers must use the detour route while the area is unsafe. (See detour maps below.)

No one is permitted to enter the construction site this week ahead, except residents of the street accessing homes.

Work next week includes landscaping, finishing, hand/guard rail installation and work on the trail and stairs at Caribou Street. Forits Alberta is scheduled to complete installation of new streetlights October 11-12, and roadway line markings are scheduled for Thursday.

The road will not re-open to vehicle traffic next week during the construction.

Please see the schedule matrix below for impact on residential access.

Avoid Dangerous Paving Zone

Bonding Agent: Also known as prime or tack coat, the bonding agent is very hot when wet. It will permanently stick and stain anything including driveways, clothing and vehicles. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK ON BONDING AGENTS.

Asphalt can be 150 C when it arrives on site to build a road. That is hotter than boiling water! It is very dangerous to pets and people. Do not attempt to drive or walk on freshly placed asphalt or bonding agents (oils), it can damage your vehicle or your shoes, and it can burn you or your dog.

Asphalt remains malleable until it has a chance to cool. Walking on it before it is cool damages the paving, which delays the project schedule and will extend road closures.

Click on schedule below to download easy-to-read PDF:

If you have questions, please contact us:

email stjulienroad@banff.ca
phone 403.762.1296

Click to download an easy-to-read PDF map of the parking zones dedicated to St. Julien property owners:

Dangerous construction site

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 are permitted to enter the street, and only when safe to do so, in coordination with work crews.

Many residents and visitor continue to ignore the signage and have proceeded into the active construction site. This puts them in danger of serious injury or death.

This week with the hot mix asphalt work, its essential that people stay away from the construction site, for their safety and to avoid disrupting the construction schedule. Please help visitors follow the signed detours.

Follow detours to Tunnel Mountain Trail

The lower trailhead to the Tunnel Mountain Trail is closed. Access to the trail is now only possible via the upper trailhead on Tunnel Mountain Drive.

Tourism operators and visitor service agents should remind visitors to ignore Google Maps and follow the detours and use the detour maps (below).

Hikers must not attempt to access the lower trailhead through St. Julien Road. This is a dangerous and often impassable construction site. Use maps to detour safely.

Signage is in place to direct hikers to detour to Wolverine Street and up the Ken Madsen Path, through the Banff Centre, and up St. Julien Way to Tunnel Mountain Drive and the upper trailhead. Large signs are placed at intersections, and "bread-crumb" lawn signs help hikers navigate the full route to Tunnel Mountain Drive. (See map below)

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 (see map 1 below).

Two detour options to Tunnel Mountain Trail

Hikers heading to the Tunnel Mountain Trail are now detoured away from St. Julien Road. The lower trailhead on St. Julien is completely inaccessible.

Hikers are required to detour to the Ken Madsen Path and around the Banff Centre campus as the only route to the upper trailhead on Tunnel Mountain Drive. The parking lot on St. Julien is closed and there is limited parking at the Upper Trailhead. The best way to access the Tunnel Mountain Trail is by walking from downtown Banff.

Hiking to Tunnel Mountain Summit
- Faster Route via Banff Centre

Hiking to Tunnel Mountain Summit
- Scenic Route via Bow River & Surprise Corner

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