14 Avenue and 14 Street N.W. Bridge Rehabilitation
About the project
The 14 Avenue N.W. bridge over 14 Street is an important connection for SAIT and the Alberta University of the Arts students and faculty, as well as for Calgarians going to shows, concerts and events at the Southern Alberta Jubilee.
The City is restoring the bridge structure to extend its life by 35 years and reconfiguring it from four lanes to three and wider pathways to meet today’s traffic, pedestrian and wheeling needs. The improvements are necessary to ensure the bridge is structurally sound and safe for everyone to use. Lighting enhancements, new railings and separation between the traffic lanes and multiuse pathways are some of the improvements this project will deliver.
Construction is anticipated in Spring 2026. Timelines may change due to inclement weather, complexity, supply chain, and/or other unexpected circumstances.
History of the bridge
The bridge over 14 Street N.W. was initially constructed in 1957 as part of a cloverleaf interchange to carry four lanes of traffic with sidewalks on both sides.
At the time, 14 Avenue N.W. was a major east-west route that crossed over what is now Crowchild Trail N.W. and connected to the Foothills Provincial General Hospital (now Foothills Medical Centre) until access to and across Crowchild Trail was restricted in the late 1960’s.
In 1979, a new Trans Canada interchange was built at 16 Avenue and 14 Street N.W. Today, 14 Avenue connects vehicle, pedestrian and cyclists to SAIT, the Southern Alberta Jubilee, Alberta University of the Arts on the east, and North Hill Centre, Lion’s Park, the Briar Hill and Hounsfield Heights communities.
Budget
The project budget is $5M.
Related information
Scope of work
The rehabilitation work on the bridge structure will include:
- reconfiguring the bridge deck from four lanes to three lanes
- replacing narrow walkways with wider multiuse pathways across the bridge
- installing new railings and barriers for pedestrian and cyclist safety
- replacing street lighting along the structure
- general concrete repairs
- life-cycling of signals at the intersections to the east and west of the bridge
- landscaping improvements adjacent to the bridge
- enhancing safety around the bridge by applying the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principle.
Benefits
The project benefits include:
- improving the condition of the bridge and extending its service life by approximately 35 years
- upgrading overall mobility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists and promoting alternative and active modes of transportation
- enhancing visibility and accessibility
- improving a critical link in the transportation network to accommodate opportunities for Calgary's continued growth in the coming years
Photos of current conditions
14 Ave 14 St NW Looking North
14 Ave 14 St NW Looking South
14 Ave NW Looking East
14 Ave NW Looking West
14 Ave NW Sidewalk and Rail
14 Ave NW Bridge Deck
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 14 Avenue Bridge in need of repair?
A routine inspection identified structural elements of the bridge that require repair to extend the structure’s service-life by approximately 35 years. No major repair work has been done since original construction in 1957.
Ongoing regular maintenance along with timely major rehabilitations are critical to keeping bridges safe and reliable while minimizing future expenditures and extending the service life of this type of structure. The project should greatly improve one critical link in the Transportation network and accommodate opportunities for Calgary's continued growth in the coming decades. Rehabilitation of bridges also supports good movement and universal access.
Will there be a bike lane on the bridge?
We plan to replace the existing walkways on the north and south sides of the bridge with wider, multiuse pathways for pedestrians, cyclists and other users.
How will traffic flow for motor vehicles with the change from four lanes to three once construction is finished?
There will be one eastbound and one westbound motor vehicle traffic lanes, with a left turning lane from westbound 14 Avenue to southbound 14 Street once construction is completed; although, the width of all lanes will be consistent and improve mobility.
What are you doing about tree removal and replacement for construction work?
We had to remove some trees in preparation of the work but we have a plan to restore habitat once construction is complete.
What are some of the benefits of this work once construction is done?
This redesign of the 14 Avenue N.W. bridge will feature wider multiuse pathways, improved connections, uniform traffic lane widths, better bridge aesthetics and lighting upgrades.