THE WAY WE MOVE North LRT to NAIT Update

SUMMER 2012

Making Tracks Major progress on North LRT to NAIT track structures

The North LRT to NAIT guideway is starting to emerge, with concrete track slabs nearing completion from 105 Avenue and 105 Street all the way up to Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 109 Street, and all track crossings scheduled for completion this fall. Contractors are also hard at work installing embedded track along 105 Street between 105 Avenue and 108 Avenue.

“We’ve already made major progress on track this year,” said Brad Smid, Program Manager for the North Construction of the 106 Street rail crossing. LRT to NAIT. “We really appreciate the patience of motorists, pedestrians and affected communities during maintained from 118 Avenue. Access is also maintained construction, particularly during the total road closures to , Boston Pizza and the Avonair Curling required to build rail crossings.” Club from both 106 Street and 109 Street. Drivers can Since the start of the 2012 construction season, track use alternate routes such as Kingsway, 111 Avenue, crossings have already been completed at: 121 Street, 106 Street/107 Street, 101 Street and . Pedestrian detour maps are posted • 106 Avenue and 105 Street in the area.

• 107 Avenue and 105 Street The project’s final track crossing is at the 111 Avenue/ • 106 Street just south of Princess Elizabeth Avenue 106 Street intersection. Partial lane closures will be required for several weeks on 111 Avenue between The rail crossing at Princess Elizabeth Avenue just 105 Street and 108 Street for preparatory work, west of 106 Street is almost complete. Construction including the installation of storm drainage and duct of tracks across Princess Elizabeth Avenue requires banks for communications/electrical cables. Once the total temporary closure of the roadway between preparations are complete, 111 Avenue will be totally 106 Street and 109 Street until mid-July. During the closed for several days between 105 Street and closure, 109 Street between Princess Elizabeth Avenue 106 Street. Motorists can detour using Kingsway and the NAIT Activities Centre will be reconstructed and Princess Elizabeth Avenue. on its final alignment. This alignment makes space for the NAIT LRT Station. Access to 109 Street is Project Overview Where We Are

Special track work is being installed just north of Churchill Station to connect the North LRT with the existing LRT system.

Roadworks Tunnel Road rehabilitation is required on Kingsway from Tunnel construction continues 24 hours a day, seven 106 Street to 109 Street and 101 Street to 102 days a week, starting at 105 Avenue and 102 Street, Street. Landscaping will also take place on Kingsway and heading towards the existing tunnel at Churchill from 101 Street to 106 Street. This work will Station. Crews have reached the pre-built LRT tunnel require periodic partial lane closures over the cavity under the EPCOR Tower and are now tunnelling summer. In addition, the access road to Victoria towards Churchill Station. School and a portion of 109 Street are scheduled for reconstruction. Track Work Track slab construction is moving forward at the Stations following locations: Construction of the North LRT to NAIT connection • 105 Avenue and 105 Street to the existing LRT system will continue at Churchill Station until September. LRT frequencies will continue • 105 Street between 105 Avenue and 108 Avenue to be affected; visit www.takeets.com for schedule • 104 Street between 108 Avenue and Kingsway information. • Along Kingsway between 104 Street and 106 Street Structures at MacEwan Station, Kingsway/Royal Alex • Along 106 Street between 111 Avenue and Princess Station and NAIT Station will be near completion at the Elizabeth Avenue end of the summer. Mechanical and electrical work will continue at all three stations through the fall, including Rail crossing construction continues on Princess heating, ventilation, electrical rough-ins, plumbing, Elizabeth Avenue, and is scheduled to take place at lighting, elevators and escalators. the 111 Avenue/106 Street intersection in late summer (see p. 1). Hard landscaping will begin for the MacEwan Station plaza, which involves building concrete components like Tail track construction will continue on 114 Street sidewalks, stairs and ramps. Hard landscaping is also between University Avenue and 83 Avenue. Work will set to begin at the Kingsway/Royal Alex Transit Centre. also begin on multi-use trails near the North LRT right-of-way.

2 North LRT to NAIT Update | summer 2012 www..ca/NLRT Construction Schedule summer 2012

Please see the following approximate schedule of construction preparations and their affected roadways, listed southeast to northwest.

Summer 2012 Approximate Construction Schedule Road/Intersection Impact/Closure Work Approx. Dates 114 Street Start: Mar/12 Minimal traffic impacts. Tail track construction University Ave. to 83 Ave. End: Dec/12 Single-tracking between 95 St. Start: Apr/12 Churchill Station Track connections and Churchill Station. End: Sep/12 105 Avenue Tunnelling excavation Start: Jan/12 24/7 work. No traffic impacts. 101 St. to 102 St. and concrete plant End: Winter 2013 105 Avenue Tunnel portal structure Start: Dec/11 Total closure. No traffic movements. 102 St. to 103 St. construction End: Summer 2013 105 Avenue MacEwan Station Start: Jun/11 Total closure. No traffic movements. 103 St. to 105 St. construction End: Permanent 104 Street West sidewalk closures between Start: Jun/12 Multi-use trail construction 105 Ave. to Kingsway 105 Ave. and 108 Ave. End: Sep/12 105 Street Start: Mar/12 Total closure. No traffic movements. Track slab construction 105 Ave. to 107 Ave. End: Nov/12 105 Street Track slab and tree canopy Start: Oct/11 Total closure. No traffic movements. 107 Ave. to 108 Ave. construction End: Permanent 108 Avenue Start: Oct/11 Total closure. No traffic movements. Track slab construction West of 104 St. to 105 St. End: Permanent 104 Street Start: Oct/11 Total closure, north section. Track slab construction 108 Ave. to Kingsway End: Permanent 104 Street Start: Jul/12 Total closure. No traffic movements. Roadworks North of 108 Ave. to Vic School access End: Aug/12 Kingsway Start: Jun/12 Periodic partial closures. Landscaping and roadworks 101 St. to 109 St. End: Fall 2012 Kingsway Kingsway/Royal Alex Start: Dec/11 Possible periodic partial closures. 104 St. to 106 St. Station construction End: Fall 2012 111 Avenue Total closure for several days. Rail crossing construction and Start: Summer 2012 105 St. to 106 St. Partial closures for several weeks. roadworks End: Summer 2012 106 Street Start: Dec/11 Partial closures. Track slab construction 111 Ave. to Princess Elizabeth Ave. End: Fall 2012 106 Street Service Road/ Start: Oct/11 Total closure. No traffic movements. Roadworks 112 Ave. intersection End: Sep/12 Princess Elizabeth Avenue Start: Nov/11 No traffic impacts. NAIT Station construction 106 St. to 109 St. End: Fall 2012 Princess Elizabeth Avenue Start: Jun/12 Total closure. No traffic movements. Rail crossing construction 106 St. to 109 St. End: Jul/12 109 Street Start: Jun/12 Princess Elizabeth Ave. Total closure. No traffic movements. Roadworks End: Jul/12 to NAIT Activities Centre Traffic signal and Start: Mar/12 Throughout North LRT right-of-way Periodic partial closures. streetlight installation End: Winter 2013

Where we are today Strategy Concept Design BUILD Operate PHASE

www.edmonton.ca/NLRT North LRT to NAIT Update | summer 2012 3 the epcor wall At MacEwan Station Plaza

≤ When complete, the EPCOR Wall will represent Edmonton’s downtown skyline, as shown in this artist’s rendering.

≤ The EPCOR Wall, a joint project between the City of Edmonton and EPCOR, is currently under construction near 105 Avenue and 105 Street.

The City of Edmonton has enhanced the Did you know? information available to citizens on property damage claims related to LRT construction. Visit www.edmonton.ca/damageclaim or call 311.

Find out more about LRT Projects This newsletter is available online. In addition to quarterly newsletters about the For further information or North LRT to NAIT, LRT Projects posts monthly updates and construction bulletins to comment, please contact: online, and sends digital copies to an email distribution list. If you wish to be added LRT Projects Information Line: to the distribution list please send an email to [email protected] with 780.496.4874 “Subscribe to North LRT to NAIT” in the subject line. LRT Projects Email: [email protected] We welcome your comments and questions about Edmonton’s LRT Projects. Please check the LRT Projects web pages for updates. LRT Projects Website: www.edmonton.ca/lrtprojects

4 North LRT to NAIT Update | summer 2012