Shady pedestrian underpass shut down by the city
Crime, safety issues raise concerns
Rampant drug use and public safety concerns have prompted the city to shutter a notorious pedestrian underpass near Chinook Centre.
On Monday, the city in co-operation with police permanently closed the link that runs beneath Glenmore Trail just to the east of Macleod Trail, in response to ongoing complaints of drug use and social disorder.
Const. Jake Tyerman said the underpass, which runs alongside the LRT tracks, has been a magnet for nefarious activities, forcing pedestrians to look for alternate routes to avoid the shady area.
“Through routine checks in the area, officers have identified the underpass as a location for consistent criminal activity,” he said.
“Working with our partners, we support the decision to close this overpass as it directly addresses the unintended consequences of an under-utilized public space.”
Following an investigation by the city’s transportation department, it was determined an average of only 14 people used the underpass daily, prompting the call to close it for good.
Alternate crossings of Glenmore Trail, a free-flowing freeway, can be found along Macleod Trail and Fairmont Drive, the city said.
Work to permanently close the underpass is slated to begin Tuesday, with the project expected to take two or three days, depending on weather. After the closure, the north sidewalk ramps along with the south stairway and sidewalk will remain up, to maintain the pedestrian link across the nearby LRT tracks.
Signage will also be posted at the underpass and nearby businesses have been notified.
Last January, the city also permanently closed an underpass that crossed under Macleod Trail just north of Glenmore Trail due to similar safety concerns.