City proposes trenching tracks under busy intersections
Tracks for the north LRT extension could run in trenches to cross under as many as five key intersections.
The decision would significantly increase the cost of the $1.8-billion line, but would reduce the impact on traffic where the track crosses 137 Avenue, 127 Street, 142 Street, Campbell Road and the intersection of 153 Avenue with 113A Street.
The designs will be on display at several open houses on Tuesday and Thursday, and online after, including one design where trenches are dug to carry the LRT train under covered intersections. City officials want public feedback on the plan.
Officials are also hoping to confirm public support for each of nine station locations, the position of the LRT track in the middle of 113A Street and 153 Avenue, and public reaction to a plan to leave the existing tracks across Princess Elizabeth Avenue as is.
The status quo was one of four options city officials considered to fix perceived traffic issues at the intersection with 106 Street, where tie-ups left council gobsmacked the day the Metro Line LRT opened.
But traffic has improved since then, Nat Alampi, director for LRT infrastructure delivery, said Monday: “Most of the traffic is getting through that intersection in a single light.”
The team looked at tunnelling or raising the track, or realigning it onto Kingsway Mall property. The options go to council March 21.
Officials haven’t yet evaluated options for fixing the Metro LRT Line crossing at 111 Avenue, where traffic volume is higher.
At the open houses, officials will also look for public feedback on the proposed bridge over Yellowhead Trail and the CN Rail yards as they determine how much to cut into the dog park there.
For the Metro Line extension, Tuesday’s open house takes place in the lobby of the Castle Downs Family YMCA, 11510 153 Ave. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, the open house runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Shaw Theatre Lobby on the NAIT main campus, 11762 106 St. After the sessions, the boards and a survey will be available online at edmonton.ca/metroNW.
City officials working on the west LRT also will host an open house, this one to present a recommendation for the crossing at 149 Street, plus 107 and 109 streets downtown. It’s Wednesday from 6-8:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 10127 145 St.