Neighbourhood Streets – Dover
Project update – July 2024
The Government of Canada generously provided $1.3 million in funding through their Active Transportation Fund for Phase 2 improvements in the Dover Neighbourhood Streets project.
This funding supports moving forward with additional improvements to the community beyond 34 Avenue S.E., including:
- Safer and more accessible school crossings
- A mix of permanent and temporary curb extensions to decrease crossing distances
- New wheelchair ramps
- Sidewalk and pathway improvements
Overall, more of Dover’s streets will become increasingly accessible to people of all ages and abilities, whether they walk or wheel. These improvements will help safely connect residents of all ages and abilities to the Bow River pathway, shops, schools and more.
The project team is finalizing designs using resident feedback to improve pedestrian visibility, reduce crossing distances and slow down vehicles throughout the community, especially around schools.
Construction on Phase 2 is anticipated to begin this fall and continue into 2025.
Construction impacts
During construction, there will be temporary sidewalk/roadway closures, noise, dust and construction equipment in the area. We know that construction can be disruptive, and our goal is to minimize impacts as best that we can.
We will do most of our work during off-peak daytime hours to avoid noise impacts as much as possible, and we will provide access detours, local access, or temporary ramp access for areas that are intermittently closed for construction, wherever possible.
We appreciate your patience while crews work in your area.
Construction updates
Phase 1
34 Avenue S.E. improvements
- Construction completed Summer 2023
- We repurposed the north side of the corridor for new two-way wheeling lanes and enhanced median and boulevard spaces.
- Vehicle traffic shifted to the south side of the corridor into one lane of traffic in each direction, plus turning lanes at 26 Street and 36 Street S.E.
- Existing sidewalks on the north and south sides of the corridor remain.
Phase 2
28 St S.E., Dovercliffe Way S.E. and Dover Ridge S.E. improvements
- Construction anticipated Fall 2024
- Phase 2 includes traffic calming, crossing improvements, walking and wheeling improvements
- The design incorporates feedback from Phase 1 engagement on initial concepts for these corridors.
Phase 3
Making upgrades along 34 Ave S.E. permanent and 36 St S.E. pathway improvements
- Construction in 2025
- Phase 3 will add permanent materials (e.g. curb and gutter) to replace the temporary/interim materials, such as the low-profile barriers) used in Phase 1 on 34 Ave S.E.
- New boulevard spaces will replace the additional unused asphalt from former vehicle/auto travel lanes.
- Pathway along the east side of 36 St (extents still to be confirmed).
Naturalization
The existing median and newly planted areas have been naturalized. Naturalization is the process of reintroducing native plant species (grasses and flowers) to an area that may have had them removed.
Why are we naturalizing spaces along the roadway?
Naturalized spaces have a greater ability to respond to extreme weather and climate change, lower maintenance costs and create habitats for urban wildlife.
Naturalization brings beauty to our urban environment, creating new spaces for citizens to connect with nature. Naturalization projects have successfully occurred across the city along several corridors, including Canyon Meadows Drive, Memorial Drive, and 16 Avenue N.E.
Example of naturalization at Canyon Meadows Drive Bee Boulevard
Example of naturalization at 16 Avenue N.E.
Project background
As part of the Neighbourhood Streets Program, The City is working with the Dover community to improve streets in your neighbourhood and create an inclusive, safe mobile network for all community residents. We are enhancing spaces so they can be used by everyone – whether you drive, walk, scoot or wheel through the area.
This project includes:
- Creating a walking, cycling, and wheeling connection through the community of Dover.
- Addressing speeding and design issues on 34 Avenue S.E.
- Providing important connections to existing pathways and bikeways.
- Installing missing sidewalks.
- Providing connections to schools and parks.
- Providing connections to destinations outside of the community, including the Bow River Pathway system and the neighbouring communities of Southview, Erinwoods and Forest Lawn.
Project history
During the two engagement phases, The City gathered feedback by asking what is working well and what is challenging for those travelling through and living in the community.
The project team presented concept designs based on opportunities identified in the first engagement phase and gathered feedback on how the concepts could be improved in the second phase.
The What We Heard reports from Phase 1 and Phase 2 are available on the Neighbourhood Streets: Dover Engage webpage.
Project timeline
- August 2021: Public engagement on proposed design concepts
- Late spring/early summer 2022: Finalized detailed design for 34 Avenue S.E.
- Fall 2022 – Spring 2023: Phase 1 construction (34 Avenue S.E.)
- Summer/Fall 2024: Finalize phase 2 design and begin construction
- Winter 2024: Phase 3 design
- Spring – Fall 2025: Complete Phase 2 construction and Phase 3 Construction
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Contact us
To learn more about the project or give feedback, please contact 311 or email the project team.