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 any questions or comments, please email the project team at BearStreet.Talk@banff.ca.

Comments to other Town staff will not be addressed as quickly.

Quick Overview: the week ahead

Pedestrian access to operating businesses maintained in all zones.

Zone 1 (at Caribou St)

Traffic/intersection – closed
Parking – closed
Pedestrian access – partial closures on Tuesday and Thursday
Activity: removal on water injection points (for chlorination) with sidewalk closures at Magpie & Stump, Brewster's Mountain Lodge (Tuesday) and Canada House (Thursday)
Access from Bear Street to these buildings will not be available on those respective days.
Activity: Storm drainage system installation preparation

Zone 2

Traffic – closed
Parking – closed
Pedestrian access - partial closures on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Parkade – closed
Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
Activity – removal on water injection points (for chlorination) with sidewalk closures at Alpine Medical and 205 Bear Street (Monday), Willock & Sax Gallery and Southeby's (Wednesday) and Soul Ski & Bike (Thursday)
Access from Bear Street to these buildings will not be available on those respective days. Note: Alpine Medical is closed today (Monday).

Zone 3

Traffic – closed
Parking – closed
Pedestrian access - partial closures Tuesday - Friday
Parkades – closed into September
Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
Activity – water and sanitary connections to properties with sidewalk closures
at Townhouse Building (Tuesday, Wednesday), Bear Street Mall (Thursday, Friday)
Access from Bear Street to these buildings will not be available on those respective days.

Zone 4 (at Wolf St)

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

Construction Description – August 17 - 21

Replacement of water and sanitary sewer systems is ongoing.
Work to remove chlorination injection system and to connect water and sewer to properties this week will disrupt sidewalk access, closing business access from Bear Street:
- Monday, Aug. 17:
  - Alpine Medical (closed Monday)
  - 205 Bear Street
- Tuesday, Aug. 18:
  - Magpie & Stump west (main) entrance (am)
  - Perfect Image
  - Cigars & Such
  - House of Angelica (pm)
  - Banff Walk (pm)
  - Scallywags west entrance (pm)
- Wednesday, Aug. 19:
  - Perfect Image
  - Cigars & Such
  - Willock & Sax
  - Southeby's/Gestion Melian
- Thursday, Aug. 20
  - Gourlay's Pharmacy (street entrance)
  - Bear Street Mall (west entrance)
  - Soul Ski & Bike
  - Spirit Leaf
  - Canada House
- Friday, Aug. 21
  - Gourlay's Pharmacy (street entrance)
  - Bear Street Mall (west entrance)
Mid-block crosswalk(s) may be closed as needed.
The underground parkades are not accessible by vehicle.
Caribou Street intersection is closed to vehicular traffic.
Wolf Street intersection is closed to vehicular traffic.
Bear Street is closed to all vehicular traffic and on-street parking.
Wastewater flows are being by-passed in construction areas.
Small sidewalk areas will 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.
Dust abatement continues through the construction project.
Expect road closures, sidewalk detours, vibrations, noise and dust.

Sidewalk closures
The construction phases in the subsequent weeks will have an impact on public access to businesses, especially for businesses without secondary access. Phases are separated by up to a week. This is the sequence for construction activity that will cause disruption:

Removal of water connection point (only where applicable)
Connections from building to storm sewer (only where applicable)
Soil Cells, Irrigation and Electrical (will affect some businesses)
Landscaping (will affect some businesses)
Native soil grading & compaction, installation of filter fabric & insulation
Grading and compaction of the layers of road base
Grading, cutting, compaction of sand and pavers

We are working with businesses without secondary access to plan work with minimal disruption, but since many neighbouring businesses have conflicting open hours, accommodation is not always possible.

Communications Update

Bear Street Ambassadors have been scheduled seven days a week to help residents navigate the Bear Street sidewalks, especially when there is a closure at a business entrance.

Please consult maps placed at all Bear Street entrances to identify when and where sidewalk access is closed.

The Bear Street Ambassadors also hand maps with promotions of any features or specials at Bear Street services or businesses.

The Ambassadors team encourages all businesses and services to update their open hours on their websites and Google My Business profile, which is the Number 1 tool used by customers.

Paid social media posts this last weekend featured Bear Street Mall services. Upcoming weeks will include promotions of professional services, rentals, galleries and food & beverage operations.

The Website BrandNewBear.ca continues to be updated with listings for the map and business directory.

Bear Street promotional tents were deployed at three locations this past weekend, including on Banff Avenue at Caribou, on Banff Avenue near Wolf Street, and at the Train Station Parking lot.

Remaining Project Schedule

Download the complete schedule (PDF)

Mandatory Mask Bylaw extended to Bear Street

On Friday, August 14, Banff Town Council expanded the temporary bylaw requiring masks or face coverings to be worn outdoors on Bear Street pathways, in addition to the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone and all interior publicly accessible spaces.
Banff Town Council also extended the vehicle closure for the downtown pedestrian zone. The reopening of Banff Avenue to vehicle traffic is now targeted for September 18.

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.