Funicular closed for 3 weeks to make cold-weather fixes
Edmonton’s river valley funicular will be closed until mid-December while city crews install a number of upgrades to allow it to operate more smoothly in cold weather.
Between now and mid-December, crews will be putting a glass roof over the lower doors to “reduce issues during winter weather” and a “heating loop” in the door sill to prevent ice buildup on the lower doors.
Also being installed are raised markers, handrails and signage on staircases to improve access for people with vision issues, as well as bike rails to help cyclists better navigate the structure.
A notice on the city ’s website said the funicular would be closed from Nov. 26 to mid-December.
Known officially as the “mechanized river valley access project,” the funicular opened in December 2017 as a link between downtown and the river valley. It includes a large staircase adjacent to the funicular — a glass elevator that travels partway down the hill on an angle — as well as a lookout and elevator that runs to the valley floor.
Since then, it has been closed several times for maintenance and to repair vandalism.
Council approved the project in June 2015.
The $24 million project received funding from the city, federal government and province. The city contributed $550,000 of the total budget.