Bear Street Project Update - September 26

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. 

Installing Soil Cells

Installation continues at more than 30 locations for landscape "pods" where soil cells will irrigate trees, shrubs and other foliage, while reducing and filtering water before going into the new storm drain mains running the length Bear Street. The installation of the storm water mains down the length of the road is almost complete. All properties are now connected to the permanent water service, and the temporary connections have been removed. The replacement of existing underground pipes - some up to 100 years old - will be complete in the next two weeks.

Excavation for Road Base and Soil Cells

The full road bed is being excavated continuing south to north. Removal of the top layer of road material will drop the level 0.5 metres below existing surface, in preparation of installing a conglomerate for drainage, then insulation and fabric, before road surface. Business doors will have to be closed on a rolling closure format during this stage. This phased process will take a few weeks. This week will see road base work in Zones 3 and 4 at the same time as soil cell installation.

Week Ahead - Overview

Pedestrian access to operating businesses maintained in all zones.

Zone 1 (at Caribou St)

• Traffic/intersection – closed  
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – partial rolling closures  
• Activity:
  • boulder placement on landscape pods over soil cells
  • surface work for preparation of road base

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Parkade – closed until project completion
• Pedestrian access  - partial closures 
• Activity:
  • concrete construction for landscape pods
  • boulder placement

• Traffic – closed
• Parking – closed
• Parkades – closed until project completion
• Pedestrian access - partial closures 
• Activity: 
  • soil cells installation
  • concrete construction for landscape pods over soil cells
  • road bed excavation
  • shallow utilities work, including electrical connections

• Traffic/intersection – closed 
• Parking – closed
• Pedestrian access – partial closures
• Activities:
  • utility excavation and installation of storm water mains 
  • road bed excavation

Zone Diagrams:

Construction Description - Sept. 28 to Oct. 3

10-day Front Door Access Closures - Sept 27 to Oct. 6
(Click to download full PDF):

Sequence of Future Closures of Access to Front Doors
(Click image to download PDF)

Communications Update

Bear Street Ambassadors focus on promoting all businesses on Bear Street on weekends, while mainly helping residents navigate the changing access routes on weekdays. Ambassadors also continue to hand out free masks on weekends to maintain high bylaw compliance.

The 14 Bear Street Ambassadors are on the street 7 days a week, working hard to assist people in finding the best route to their Bear Street destination, often escorting individuals to businesses and services. Ambassadors understand the frustration residents may have with the changing access routes to familiar locations, and aim to help people avoid dead end routs and find the quickest way to the many important services on Bear Street.

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

Promotions of Bear Street continues with signage at various parking locations in the downtown area.

Online and On-Site Information

The Town continues to promote Bear Street businesses in boosted social media posts targeted at visitors. The Website BrandNewBear.ca is also being promoted to residents and visitors through a map and business directory for Bear Street. 

A live video public information session about the project is being held on zoom:

Date: Thursday, October 1
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Register (required):

Mandatory Mask Bylaw Extended

The Temporary Mask Bylaw will continue inside publicly accessible buildings and outside on sidewalks in the downtown core. Council gave three readings to the bylaw to extend its use after the downtown pedestrian zone closed and Banff Avenue re-opened to traffic. Masks will still be required on sidewalks in the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue, the 200 block of Bear Street, and connecting sections of Wolf and Caribou Streets. There is no end date associated with the bylaw, but due to its temporary nature, it will be brought back to council regularly for review. Residents are able to pick up a supply of masks for free from Town Hall during regular business hours. More information on the bylaw is available at https://banff.ca/covidmasks 

Call to Artists 

The Town of Banff, through the Community Art Committee, is inviting Canadian artists to submit proposals for a public art project on Bear Street. The Call to Artists opened on August 27 and closes January 6, 2021. Details on this opportunity and maps of the two locations for public art on Bear Street are available at banff.ca/1153/Call-to-Artists.

Bear Street Reconstruction Project Team:

• Pierre-Hugues “PH” Gagnon, Bear Street Project Manager
• Marie-Eve Jackson, Community Liaison Officer (for businesses 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.