New Infrastructure and Federal Funding: 34 Ave SE in Dover

22Jan 2023 by WheelsofFortune 1 Comment

Following up from our 2022 Infrastructure Year In Review blog post, we wanted to highlight another 5A network project that is nearing completion in the Southeast Calgary community of Dover.

34 Avenue is an east-west connecting road between 36 Street and 26 Street SE. Further west from 26 Street, it crosses Deerfoot Trail as Gosling Way to access an off-leash dog park and the Inglewood Golf and Curling Club. The previous 4-lane roadway with a large centre median was found to be overbuilt for the amount of drivers that used it.

Previous northern (westbound lanes of 34 Street SE). Image from Google Street view:

Through the City of Calgary’s Neighbourhood Streets program, this corridor was identified for reconstruction to add more space for walking and wheeling, as well as naturalization (reintroduction of native grass and plant species) of some of the boulevard areas. See below for the project website which has more details.

https://www.calgary.ca/planning/transportation/dover-neighbourhood-streets.html#34ave

Phase 1 of the project included re-purposing the two northern lanes of 34 Ave into a bi-directional walking and wheeling space.

West end of the project near 26 Street SE. Image from https://www.calgary.ca

Central section of the project. Image from https://www.calgary.ca

East end of the project near 36 Street SE. Image from https://www.calgary.ca

We were able to check out the Phase 1 construction which is mostly complete.

Looking east on 34 Ave near 26 Street SE at the new pathway. Some landscaping work is remaining but the path is open for use. Photo by Jon van Heyst

Looking west on 34 Ave near 36 Street SE, where road space has been re-allocated for separated wheeling paths: Photo by Jon van Heyst

Bike Calgary’s Initial Thoughts:

It’s great to see another 5A network project east of Deerfoot Trail with dedicated infrastructure that separates people walking and wheeling. This part of the city has previously been left out of infrastructure investments, but projects like this one and East Central Phase 2 (19 Ave and 28 St SE) are changing that.
The project connects to existing dedicated infrastructure on both ends – to a multi-use pathway along 26 Street SE at the west end, and another pathway on 36 Street SE on the east end. It is really important that these new projects make complete connections on each end, so that they can integrate with the larger network without dead-ending onto busy roadways.
From 34 Ave SE, there are now separated pathways/bikeways connecting people to destinations like Valleyview Park, 17 Ave SE/International Avenue, the Western Headworks Canal Pathway, Bow River Pathway in Inglewood, and beyond.
In the future it would be great to see dedicated pathways extended further south on 36 Street to connect into Erin Woods.
Some snow clearing issues were noticed at intersections where the pathway curves. It can be difficult for operators to know where a pathway goes exactly without some visual indicators that stick above the snow. Some plantings or bollards next to the pathway might help with that.

Snow and ice buildup on the new pathway near intersections (Jan 2023): Photo by Jon van Heyst

You may have also seen the news that the City of Calgary received funding of over $1.3 million through the National Active Transportation Fund (NATF) to complete more walking and wheeling infrastructure in Dover. Bike Calgary wrote a letter of support for the City’s application to the NATF, and we’re pleased to see that some funding has been allocated to Calgary. Keep an eye out for future work in the Dover area, which is planned for 2023 construction!