Centennial Street Redevelopment

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The 50 Street Redevelopment Project upgrades 50 Street from Lakeshore Drive to 48 Avenue. Upgrades include new infrastructure (road surface), underground infrastructure (utilities), sidewalks, and landscaping. All downtown businesses in the 50 Avenue Redevelopment construction area are open. Because the railway crossing upgrades are out of our control, project dates are tentative and may change. The project has two phases running from 2023 to 2027. There is a planned two year break for 2025 and 2026 (visual timeline).

Railway Crossing

Construction dates were tentative because the project includes upgrading the railway crossing at Centennial Street. This work is now scheduled for September - October, 2024. We hope to install traffic lights by the end of November 2024.

Railway crossing upgrades:

  • Include 50 Avenue and Centennial Street intersection safety upgrades installation of a traffic light
  • Must be approved by Transport Canada. We are waiting on approval
  • Must be approved and scheduled by CN Rail
  • Are performed by CN Rail on CN Rail's schedule





When?

  • Phase 2: 2024 - 2025. This phase builds on work done in 2023 as part of the 50 Avenue Redevelopment project
  • Planned break: 2026 - 2026. Regardless of start time, there is a planned two year break between Phase 2 and 3
  • Phase 3: Tentatively starting in 2027


Why?

  • The roadway and underground utilities are past the end of their life cycle
    • It is cheaper to replace aging underground infrastructure before it fails
    • Some water and sewer mains are over forty years old
    • Save money by upgrading landscaping and sidewalks at the same time as the road
  • Improve accessibility
  • Modernize the road and calm traffic
  • Help tourism and business by giving a facelift to this important downtown corridor

Reducing construction impacts

Why is the 50 Street area important?

  • It is the heart of our historic downtown core

  • 50 Street supports heavy use by residents and visitors

  • As population and traffic increases

  • We need new underground infrastructure to meet demand

  • Making the railway crossing safer is important

  • Fulfills Council's strategy:
    • To provide a safe area for residents and visitors to enjoy while promoting businesses and downtown
    • To create an environment that invites people to explore businesses off Lakeshore Drive
    • Vision: The Town of Sylvan Lake is a thriving, connected lakeside community that is resident focused, visitor friendly, and THE place to do business
    • Mission: Deliver responsible municipal services and infrastructure that support an outstanding quality of life, unforgettable experiences, and a strong, diverse economy

  • This project helps to fulfill goals in the Town's REIMAGINE SYLVAN, Sustainable Waterfront Area Redevelopment Plan (SWARP)


Learn about the project

The 50 Street Redevelopment Project upgrades 50 Street from Lakeshore Drive to 48 Avenue. Upgrades include new infrastructure (road surface), underground infrastructure (utilities), sidewalks, and landscaping. All downtown businesses in the 50 Avenue Redevelopment construction area are open. Because the railway crossing upgrades are out of our control, project dates are tentative and may change. The project has two phases running from 2023 to 2027. There is a planned two year break for 2025 and 2026 (visual timeline).

Railway Crossing

Construction dates were tentative because the project includes upgrading the railway crossing at Centennial Street. This work is now scheduled for September - October, 2024. We hope to install traffic lights by the end of November 2024.

Railway crossing upgrades:

  • Include 50 Avenue and Centennial Street intersection safety upgrades installation of a traffic light
  • Must be approved by Transport Canada. We are waiting on approval
  • Must be approved and scheduled by CN Rail
  • Are performed by CN Rail on CN Rail's schedule





When?

  • Phase 2: 2024 - 2025. This phase builds on work done in 2023 as part of the 50 Avenue Redevelopment project
  • Planned break: 2026 - 2026. Regardless of start time, there is a planned two year break between Phase 2 and 3
  • Phase 3: Tentatively starting in 2027


Why?

  • The roadway and underground utilities are past the end of their life cycle
    • It is cheaper to replace aging underground infrastructure before it fails
    • Some water and sewer mains are over forty years old
    • Save money by upgrading landscaping and sidewalks at the same time as the road
  • Improve accessibility
  • Modernize the road and calm traffic
  • Help tourism and business by giving a facelift to this important downtown corridor

Reducing construction impacts

Why is the 50 Street area important?

  • It is the heart of our historic downtown core

  • 50 Street supports heavy use by residents and visitors

  • As population and traffic increases

  • We need new underground infrastructure to meet demand

  • Making the railway crossing safer is important

  • Fulfills Council's strategy:
    • To provide a safe area for residents and visitors to enjoy while promoting businesses and downtown
    • To create an environment that invites people to explore businesses off Lakeshore Drive
    • Vision: The Town of Sylvan Lake is a thriving, connected lakeside community that is resident focused, visitor friendly, and THE place to do business
    • Mission: Deliver responsible municipal services and infrastructure that support an outstanding quality of life, unforgettable experiences, and a strong, diverse economy

  • This project helps to fulfill goals in the Town's REIMAGINE SYLVAN, Sustainable Waterfront Area Redevelopment Plan (SWARP)


Learn about the project

  • Roadway Modernization, Accessibility, and Traffic Calming

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    The new Centennial Street design looks more inviting, calms traffic, and improves safety.

    Increased accessibility

    • Wider sidewalks on both sides: More space for improved accessibility, outdoor street furniture, and pedestrian experience

    • Smoother sidewalks: Removing the trench gates for downspouts

    • Accessible stalls: Better positioned handicap parking stalls

    • Low profile rolled curbs: Makes entering and exiting a parked vehicle easier for all users

    • Traffic signal beeps: Audibles signals for vision impaired

    • Wider ramps at pedestrian crossings: Makes navigating with wheelchairs, assistive devices, and strollers easier

    • Textured pads at pedestrian crossings: Textured pads allow visually impaired persons to feel the end of the sidewalk

    • Improved building entrances: Smooth building entrances with no steps

    • New rooftop downspouts: Look better and make winter walking safer

    • Improved seating


    Improved pedestrian walkability and safety

    • Adding crosswalks and curb bulb-outs: Why are bulb outs safer? They let pedestrians look past parked cars before crossing while staying off the road. The bulb outs also let drivers see walkers more easily

    • Lower speed limit: 30 Km/h on Centennial Street (from Lakeshore Drive to 48 Avenue)

    • New street lighting: Increases visibility

    • New traffic lights: Lights at Centennial Street and 50 Avenue synchronize with the CN railway gates. Lights also have audible signals for the vision impaired

    • Lowered congestion: Lights at Centennial Street and Lakeshore Drive are programmable to improve flow during road closures and events. This light uses a scramble style pedestrian crossing. This crossing style lowers accident rates.



    Greenery and water conservation

    • We are planting new trees in soil cells to keep the trees healthy and growing. Soil cells have subdrains for watering

    • Soil cells:

    • Conserve water. They harvest water from sidewalks through permeable pavers and rooftop downspouts

    • Can be installed at much shallow grades than standard storm water pipes so roads can be built directly above. This means that no extra space is needed to significantly improve the road and sidewalk

    • Provide a space for root systems to grow without damaging surrounding infrastructure

    • Are filled with engineered soils. This soil cleans run off water run before it enters our storm water and Sylvan Lake

    • Slow down how fast storm water moves through the system. The trees planted in the cells drink a lot of water, which reduces storm water levels


    Aesthetic enhancements

    • New raised flower beds.

    • New trees planted strategically to allow access and views of businesses and still provide shade and greenery.

    • Improved open spaces to allow for art displays, event staging, or business displays along sidewalks.

    • Improved seating and amenities for the public

    • Decorative bollards


    What's staying the same

    • 2-way traffic
    • Parallel parking along both sides of the road


  • Budget

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    The Centennial Street Modernization is one of the Town's biggest projects. It cannot be completed in one construction season and was split into 3 phases.

    Total budget to date: $16,254,000

    Phase 3

    Phase 2

    Phase 1


    Questions?

Page last updated: 04 Nov 2024, 08:02 AM