Bridge Closure in Edmonton’s High Street Area Creates Concerns for Local Businesses
The High Street sector of Edmonton is preparing for yet another significant bridge closure, an event that could jeopardize the viability of local enterprises.
Ten years prior, the protracted closure of the 102 Avenue bridge lasted approximately two years. Now, a similar fate looms for the Wellington Bridge, located just west of the former Royal Alberta Museum site on 102 Avenue in the Glenora area. As of Monday, traffic in both directions has been barred as city construction teams commence the demolition process.
City officials anticipate that the bridge will remain closed until late 2026. This closure is necessitated by the aging infrastructure of the existing span, which has reached the twilight of its serviceability. The forthcoming design aims to enhance accessibility and safety, integrating a shared pathway for both pedestrians and cyclists, alongside additional barriers and handrails.
Nevertheless, entrepreneurs along 124 Street and in the High Street vicinity express palpable anxiety regarding a potential downturn in customer traffic—an anxiety that has historical precedence, given the repercussions of the previous bridge closure.
“We’ve experienced a similar ordeal when the 102 Avenue bridge adjacent to us was shut down, and it significantly hindered our traffic flow,” stated Miranda Heslip, co-owner of Cloud Nine Pajamas. “Our data corroborates that sales and customer influx markedly declined during that period.”
The replacement work on the 102 Avenue bridge over Groat Road was initiated in July 2014, initially projected to wrap up by September 2015. However, complications arose when three girders buckled in March 2015, extending the closure and delaying the project’s completion. Ultimately, the new $32-million bridge did not open until the summer of 2016.
“During that closure, we recorded a pronounced drop in business,” Heslip emphasized, noting that some establishments did not endure the fiscal strain resulting from the disruption.
Concern escalates as Heslip anticipates that ongoing construction on Stony Plain Road—a few blocks north of the Wellington Bridge—will exacerbate the ramifications for local commerce. “I am deeply apprehensive about the traffic redirection that will descend upon our area,” she stated.
Heslip, learning of the bridge closure just last week, lamented the lack of advance notice from the City of Edmonton, wishing local businesses had been afforded more time to recalibrate their staffing and inventory.
“We expected the closure to be further off, allowing us to capitalize on the holiday shopping season. The fact that it was instituted in September caught us completely off guard,” she lamented, highlighting the critical nature of the holiday season for many small retailers.
“Entering the Christmas season with this closure affects our ability to strategize appropriately, and we simply lacked the foresight to plan accordingly.”
High Street retailers assert that their experiences with the Valley Line West LRT construction have already taken a toll on local businesses, prompting fears of a continuation of their tribulations.
“It feels as though we are perpetually battered by one challenge after another, particularly in the aftermath of COVID,” noted Natalie Charlton, co-owner of Shop Harrow, a mother-daughter boutique specializing in women’s apparel and gifts. “Just as we start to regain momentum, the impending construction threatens to undermine our potential during the pivotal holiday season.”
Established in 2017 from a basement in Hinton, Charlton’s shop expanded to the High Street area in 2019, encapsulating the dedication of local entrepreneurs who sacrifice much to provide unique offerings to the community.
“We lack the backing of large brands and multiple locations throughout the city, relying solely on the foot traffic we attract,” she elaborated. “Support from our community is indispensable; each patron holds substantial significance to our business model.”
“We cultivate personalized relationships with our clientele. If access to our store diminishes, it directly impacts our livelihood.”
In light of the circumstances, local businesses convened this week to strategize cooperative efforts aimed at bolstering foot traffic in the area, underscoring the importance of community support during construction-induced hardships.
“We aren’t the only sector grappling with construction-related impediments; it is crucial for the public to remain cognizant of the struggles faced by businesses inconvenienced by ongoing projects,” Heslip remarked, referencing the Valley Line West construction occurring mere blocks away.
While acknowledging the necessity for such infrastructure improvements, both Heslip and Charlton remain apprehensive about the future. “The work is essential, but I sincerely hope people will endeavor to shop local throughout this timeframe,” urged Charlton.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our downtown cores. I fervently hope that patrons will make an effort to visit us amidst the disruptions.”
This bridge closure marks the second significant construction project affecting access to downtown in recent months, with plans for three additional bridges to undergo various stages of construction throughout 2025.
In July, the northern span of the Low Level Bridge was closed to allow for repairs on the southbound side, necessitating detours for drivers. Minor repairs on the Dawson Bridge in the river valley are scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, involving only limited overnight closures to minimize disruptions.
Traffic woes are not confined to downtown drivers alone, as ongoing upgrades to the Rainbow Valley Bridges on Whitemud Drive have persisted for two years in connection with the Terwillegar Drive expressway project.
To mitigate disruption during the Wellington Bridge construction, the city has coordinated timelines with the LRT upgrades on Stony Plain Road. Motorists heading downtown from the west are advised to divert via 142 Street and 107 Avenue, with a turn at 124 Street to access Jasper Avenue or continue towards the downtown core.
Restrictions on parking will be enacted to enhance traffic flow: on the northbound side of 124 Street—between Jasper Avenue and 102 Avenue—parking will be prohibited at all times, while restrictions will apply weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. between 102 Avenue and 107 Avenue.
For pedestrians and cyclists, alternate routes through the Glenora neighborhood remain accessible, providing avenues to navigate around the construction.
Source link: Globalnews.ca.
