Construction Update - July 27

This e-newsletter is for residents, businesses and organizations who have registered for project updates.
 
If you know others who should receive this regular email update, please direct them to sign up at https://www.brandnewbear.ca/
 
For questions or comments, please email the project team at BearStreet.Talk@banff.ca.

 Quick Construction Update - the week ahead

 
Pedestrian access to operating businesses maintained in all zones.
 
Zone 1 (at Caribou St)

• Traffic/intersection – closed  
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – open on gravel pathways (Closed at Canada House on Friday)
• Activity – underground utility service replacement - connections, chlorination 

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – periodic closures of temporary gravel pathways on both east and west sides of the street (Closed at Willock & Sax Gallery on Monday)
• Parkade – closed
• Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
• Activity – underground utility replacement - water and sanitary sewer with tie-in connections, pressure testing of services

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – open with temporary pathways
• Parkades – Open Monday and then closed Tuesday, July 21, for the duration of the week
• Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
• Activity – water and sanitary mains replacement, sanitary bypass relocation

• Traffic/intersection – closed 
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – open on temporary pathways
• Activities – water and sanitary mains replacement

Construction Activity – July 27 - Aug. 1

• Bear Street is closed to all vehicular traffic.
• There is no on-street parking on Bear Street throughout the reconstruction.
• Wolf Street intersection will remain closed until late August.
• Caribou Street intersection is closed.
• Excavation at the Willock & Sax Gallery for sanitary and water connections will close the north-south sidewalk for most of Monday. 
• Closure of the Caribou Street sidewalk outside of Canada House will be required on Friday to remove the water line insertion valve after testing of the Zone 1 water lines. Access to the business entrances will not be restricted.
• Mid-block crosswalk(s) may be closed as needed, to allow trenching and replacement of water and sewer mains.
• We may need to access some buildings, with permission, to continue the temporary water connections. Intermittent service disruption may occur and will be planned with each buildings impacted.
• Wastewater flows are being bypassed overland with pumps and pipes. Sewer service to buildings will not be affected. Bypass pumps will have to run 24 hours per day and will be move about every 1.5 weeks as the pipe replacement continues until the waste water works is complete.
• Small sidewalk areas may be demolished adjacent to some buildings.
• Security lighting is in place. Extra caution should be used if the public needs to access the area at night.
• The temporary sidewalks will be re-levelled and re-compacted throughout the week. Expect vibrations.
• Expect intermittent sidewalk detours, vibrations, noise and dust.

• the lot beside the Fire Hall on Beaver Street
• the Train Station Public Parking lot
• Bow Avenue
• The Bear Street Parkade (8 hour stalls – 2^nd/3^rd level only).  

Communications Update

• Bear Street Ambassadors were out in full force again this past weekend handing out free masks on Banff Avenue, and providing directions and promoting Bear Street in a number of locations in the downtown. Ambassadors will be stationed at locations ahead of closures to help people navigate to businesses and services on Bear Street. 
• Residents are reminded to check signage at sidewalk entrances to Bear Street to see where pathways are temporarily closed, as these will change through the week.
• Paid social media posts this last weekend featured professional services and businesses in the Bison Courtyard area. Next weekend will promote food & beverage businesses, and a range of services.
• The narrow sections of pathway are being monitored to ensure safe passage. All pathways will provide maximum possible pedestrian space on the upcoming long weekend.
• The Website BrandNewBear.ca continues to be updated with listings for the map and business directory.
• Bear Street promotional tents will be deployed at two locations on Banff Avenue in this weekend.
• A large promotional street decal will also be installed on Banff Avenue this week.

Banff Town Council to discuss mask bylaw

Banff Town Council will discuss a proposed Mandatory Mask Bylaw on Monday, July 27. The Governance and Finance Committee will review the proposed bylaw at 9 am and Town Council will discuss the proposal at 2 pm. To follow the presentations with health experts and council discussion, tune in to live video of the meetings at https://banff.ca/live
To read the proposed bylaw, download the agenda at https://banff.ca/AgendaCenter

Bear Street Reconstruction Project Team:

• Pierre-Hugues “PH” Gagnon, Bear Street Project Manager
• Marie-Eve Jackson, Community Liaison Officer (for businesses, employees and residents)
• Rick Williams, Business Liaison Officer (for property owners)
• Janice Carson, Senior Communications Specialist
• Darren Enns, Director of Planning and Development
• Adrian Field, Director of Engineering
• Jason Darrah, Director of Communications

 
For questions and comments about the Bear Street Reconstruction project, please email bearstreettalk@banff.ca.