The water main repair project on Stephen Avenue has hit a roadblock, but downtown business owners are breathing a temporary sigh of relief. After weeks of disruption and mounting concerns from local merchants, the City of Calgary has paused the essential infrastructure work that’s been hampering foot traffic in one of our downtown’s key commercial corridors.
I’ve spent the past few days talking with frustrated shop owners along the historic pedestrian mall, and their message has been consistent – the timing couldn’t be worse. With summer tourist season approaching and businesses still recovering from pandemic setbacks, the construction barriers and limited access have dealt another blow to their fragile recovery.
“We’ve seen our customer traffic drop by nearly 30% since the construction began,” shared Maria Delgado, who has operated her boutique on Stephen Avenue for over a decade. “After everything we’ve endured these past few years, this felt like the final straw.”
The City originally scheduled the water main repairs to address aging infrastructure dating back to the early 1900s. According to municipal engineering records, some sections of the pipeline system beneath Stephen Avenue haven’t been updated in over 70 years, creating significant risk for potential failures.
What’s particularly interesting about this situation is the balancing act the City finds itself performing – weighing critical infrastructure needs against economic vitality. Calgary’s downtown vacancy rates remain among the highest in Canada, hovering around 32% according to the latest Calgary Economic Development report.
The repair project, which began in early April, was slated to continue through July – precisely when downtown businesses count on increased foot traffic from summer festivals and tourism. After receiving numerous complaints from the Stephen Avenue Business Association, city officials have temporarily halted the work.
“We understand the concerns of local businesses and are working to find a more suitable timeline,” explained Ryan Thompson, the City’s Director of Infrastructure Services. “While these repairs are necessary to prevent potential water main failures, we recognize the economic importance of Stephen Avenue, especially during summer months.”
The pause offers a momentary reprieve, but raises questions about our city’s approach to essential infrastructure projects. Having covered downtown development for nearly 15 years, I’ve observed this tension repeatedly – the need to maintain aging systems versus the economic impact on local businesses.
The City says it’s now consulting with business stakeholders to develop a revised schedule, potentially shifting major work to fall or conducting repairs during overnight hours to minimize disruption. Either approach would increase project costs, ultimately passed to taxpayers.
Peter Chen, owner of a popular Stephen Avenue restaurant, told me the consultation is welcome but overdue. “We appreciate that they’re listening now, but this conversation should have happened months ago, before equipment and barriers appeared outside our doors.”
The Stephen Avenue situation highlights a broader challenge facing Calgary as much of our core infrastructure approaches the end of its service life. According to the City’s latest infrastructure status report, approximately 23% of our water and wastewater systems are rated as being in poor or very poor condition.
What makes this particular project complex is Stephen Avenue’s designation as a heritage district. The street’s distinctive sandstone buildings and brick-paved walkway require specialized construction approaches to preserve their historic character, adding both time and expense to any infrastructure work.
For businesses already operating on thin margins, even short-term disruptions can have lasting consequences. “It’s not just about sales during construction,” explained economic analyst Samantha Williams. “It’s about maintaining customer habits. Once people find alternative shopping and dining destinations, it’s challenging to bring them back.”
Looking ahead, the City faces difficult decisions. The aging water main remains at risk of failure, which could cause significantly greater disruption and damage if left unaddressed. Meanwhile, downtown businesses continue fighting for survival in a post-pandemic economy still grappling with hybrid work patterns and reduced office occupancy.
From my perspective, this situation underscores the need for more integrated planning between infrastructure maintenance and economic development. Having watched Calgary’s downtown transformation over decades, I’ve seen both successful and problematic approaches to necessary upgrades.
In the short term, businesses on Stephen Avenue have won a temporary reprieve. The City expects to announce a revised project timeline within the next two weeks, following consultation with the business community.
For visitors wondering about access, Stephen Avenue is currently open with some limited construction equipment still in place. The street’s restaurants and shops remain open for business, eager to welcome customers after a challenging start to spring.
As for long-term solutions, this project highlights the importance of developing more business-friendly approaches to essential infrastructure work. Perhaps the most promising aspect of this delay is the opportunity it creates for meaningful collaboration between city planners and the business community.
After all, a thriving Stephen Avenue benefits everyone in Calgary – a lesson that seems worth remembering as we balance preserving our past with building our future.
