City of Calgary Solicits Feedback on Memorial Drive Extension to East City Line – Calgary

The City of Calgary is exploring an extension of Memorial Drive to help accommodate new communities being developed on the eastern edge of the city. Residents fear, however, that green spaces would be lost as a result of an extension.

The extension of the east-west thoroughfare was approved by the former board of directors as part of the spatial planning for the new municipality of Belvedere, but the project was not funded.

The proposed project would extend Memorial Drive from the existing communities of Abbeydale and Applewood Park to the eastern city limits at 116 Street E.

It would involve a new crossing of the CN Rail line and an east-west overpass over the Stoney Trail with no ramps on or off the Stoney Trail.

“While the plan is approved by the council, the details of the configuration, lanes, sidewalks, pathways and tree shelters are scheduled to be discussed as part of this functional planning study,” Zoran Carkic, City of Calgary Project Manager, told Global News.

According to Carkic, the current public participation process will help determine how the road will route through the neighborhood and over the CN Rail, Rotary Mattamy Greenway and Stoney Trail tracks.

The online survey runs until August 9th.

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But some residents in the area are not enthusiastic about the plan to extend the road past their homes.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea: then we lose another green space,” Mark Derocher told Global News. “There’s a lot of people here playing with their kids… and people with their dogs, they walk their dogs, they let the dogs loose here.”

Jennifer Lukeniuk, who also lives in the area, said she doesn’t support the idea if it means losing the green space.

“There are many children here,” she said. “A lot of people like to walk around here with their dogs and stuff, and there’s a school over there too.”

district 9 district. Gian-Carlo Carra said he prefers to have Belvedere supported by the Bus Rapid Transit network on 17 Avenue.

“When the entire area is close to being fully developed, (Memorial Drive) will be a necessary piece of infrastructure,” Carra told Global News. “It will be required sooner rather than later if we don’t track the transit.”

Another issue in the area is access for local residents to the Rotary Mattamy Greenway from Abbeydale and Applewood Park, which are on opposite sides of the railroad tracks.

There is a fence separating the community from the area, but a hole cut through the fence is regularly used as a crossing.

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Carra said he would prefer minimal infrastructure with a level crossing at the railroad tracks that doesn’t require a major overpass but does include safe access for residents to the Rotary Mattamy Greenway.

“Does it look like a giant highway, high up, under pylons? Or is it a great road that completes Abbeydale and Applewood, takes you into the park and quickly hops down Memorial Drive? Carra said.

“Right now we’re having a conversation about all of those things.”

Residents in the area will have another opportunity to provide feedback on the project once concepts are developed later this fall. The recommended plan for the Memorial Drive expansion is expected to be presented to City Council in spring 2023.

“I look forward to working with everyone to bring our plan to fruition,” said Carkic. “Hopefully in the future we will build it in the way that suits it best.”