Bear Street Project Update - Aug. 23

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 from Tuesday onward 
• Activity: road bed work, construction of storm drain system and soil cells, with sidewalk closures at Magpie & Stump and Brewster's Mountain Lodge
  Access to these buildings from the street will not be available on certain days.

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access  - partial closures from Thursday onward
• Parkade – closed
• Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
• Activity – construction of storm drain system with sidewalk closures between Willock & Sax Gallery and Scallywags
  Access from Bear Street to these buildings will not be available on certain days.

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access - partial closures at mid-block crossings
• Parkades – closed into September
• Laydown area (surface parking lot) – restricted to construction crews
• Activity – pressure testing and chlorination of connections
  Access from Bear Street to these buildings will be affected on certain days.

• Traffic/intersection – closed 
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – partial closures along north side of the street Monday - Thursday
• Activities – water and sanitary connections to buildings
  
• Access from Bear Street to these buildings will be affected on certain days.

Construction Description: Aug. 24-28

• Installation of the storm water drainage system is beginning from the south portion of the street, working north.
• Water and sanitary sewer connections are continuing on Wolf Street.
• Starting on Wednesday, August 26,  “road coring” will begin. This work involves the removal of a half metre of soil off the top of the existing road bed to facilitate the excavations for soil cells (storm drainage) and prepare for the re-building of the road base. After completion of the road coring, the street level will be approximately half a metre lower. 
• Temporary stair access will be built for building/business entrances affected by the road coring.
• Pressure testing and chlorination of the water system in the northern section (Zone 3) of the street will continue throughout the week.
• Sidewalk closures will affect access to these businesses this week:
  • Sanitary and water service laterals will be completed for 204 Wolf Street (new restaurant developed at intersection) on Monday, August 24, and the Cascade Mall Apartments/Circle K  on Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26.  Wolf Street access to businesses will be interrupted on those respective days.
  • Closure of the sidewalk around Magpie & Stump's main door is scheduled of at least 2 days within August 25-27.
  • Closure of sections of sidewalk between Willock &Sax Gallery and Scallywags will occur on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28.
  • The gravel portion of the sidewalk on Caribou Street along Brewster Mountain Lodge and Scallywags will be closed August 26-28, but access will be maintained on the Brewster Mountain Lodge concrete sidewalk. This will be one-way to maintain physical distancing on the the narrow path.
• Bear Street is closed to all vehicular traffic.
• The underground parkades are not accessible by vehicle.
• Caribou Street intersection is closed to vehicular traffic.

• Water/sewer connections to buildings
• Removal of water connection point after pressure testing and chlorination
• Connections from building to storm sewer (only where applicable)
• Soil Cells (only where applicable)
• Construction of road base
• Landscaping (only where applicable)
• Installation of pavers

Communications Update 

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

Maps placed at all Bear Street entrances indicate when and where sidewalk access is closed. Please look for maps at entrances to find the best route to destinations on Bear Street. 

Signs at key sidewalk entrances indicate the street-level businesses ahead.

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

The Ambassadors team encourage 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 adventure and bicycle rentals. The upcoming paid promotion will feature fashion retailers, including House of Angelica, Last Temptation Vintage, Rocky Mountain Flannel Co., Lole and Defending Awesome.

"We're Open" flags will be attached at three locations on fencing to enhance visibility from the opposite side of the street. These locations will change as routes change and as fencing is moved by the construction crews.

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

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