Level rail crossing to be closed in southeast
Canadian Pacific cites old agreement with city, safety concerns in decision
A century-old agreement means a key link between Inglewood and Ramsay will be closed to vehicles, bikes and people sometime in the future.
While trains while still be able to use the tracks, Canadian Pacific has decided to close its level crossing on 8th Street S.E., south of 9th Avenue S.E., to all other forms of traffic.
“(Canadian Pacific) had this IOU with the city from 100 years ago that basically said at some point when they want that road closed, they’ll close it,” said Ward 9 councillor Gian-Carlo Carra.
The move comes as density increases and the rail company looks at closing several ground level rail crossings in major cities, in the interest of safety.
It’s expected the ground level crossing at 11th Street S.W. and 69th Avenue S.E. in Calgary will also be shut to pedestrians and vehicles eventually.
While the closure of the crossing that connects Inglewood and Ramsay isn’t immediate — Carra expects it will be permanently closed when construction of the Green Line LRT begins in several years — talk of an alternate link between the communities is already being discussed.
“The overwhelming public consensus is we need a connection to replace it. Where and how, we’ll work that out,” he said, noting an underpass at 6th Street or 9th Street could be solutions.
The city said it will work with community members and Carra to determine the connection needs and discuss alternate locations for a new link.
“The traffic that goes along that route currently will need another place to go,” said transportation spokesman Sean Somers.
City traffic counts show about 3,000 vehicles per day use the crossing, though Somers said he expects that number might rise when there are events at the nearby Saddledome.
“The reality is (Canadian Pacific) owns the land around and adjacent to the railway. We’ve been borrowing it, essentially,” he said.