The city is asking drivers to find alternative routes through the downtown core, while construction crews switch from the north to the south side of a downtown street – where a major facelift is underway.
The city said a section of Jasper Avenue, between 100 Street and 102 Street will be closed throughout the weekend, to allow crews to finish up construction work on the north side of the avenue, and switch over to the south side.
The project manager for the LRT station rehabilitation and the streetscape project told CTV News that stretch of road will close starting at 7 p.m. Friday, and reopen to traffic at 6 a.m. Monday.
Starting Monday, drivers will use two lanes in both directions on the north side of the avenue.
The weekend closure comes after a series of overnight closures officials implemented on the street throughout the week.
It’s the beginning of the next phase in a two-year streetscape and rehabilitation work started in April 2012, the north lanes of that section of Jasper Avenue have been closed since then.
Work had to be carried over through the winter to make up for time lost due to a combination of site conditions at the Central LRT Station, and weather.
Up until recently, the north side lanes and sidewalks had been closed to pedestrians and traffic.
Once the switch is made, work on the south side includes repairing leaks to the Central LRT Station, road reconstruction, repair and resurfacing, widened sidewalks, and new trees, benches, traffic signals and street lights.
Drivers are advised to find alternative routes through the area, and asked motorists to be aware of traffic signs.
Work is expected to be finished in October, 2013, as scheduled.
