Section of LRT's Red Line reopens following 9-day closure

The LRT was running again Monday morning next to Macleod Trail into the core after being shut down since Nov. 24.

The stretch between City Hall/Bow Valley College station and Chinook station was closed for nine days to allow crews to complete a key phase of construction in the Victoria Park/Stampede station rebuild the switch from the temporary track and platform to the new, permanent track and platform.

The city says that work is now completed, allowing the resumption of service on the Red Line and the opening of pedestrian access onto Stampede Park from Macleod Trail.

The service disruption forced Calgary Transit to organize its largest ever replacement shuttle service, between Chinook station and City Hall/Bow Valley College station.

"The switch was a significant undertaking, both in construction scope and in our operational response," said Doug Morgan, the City of Calgary's general manager of operational services, in a release.

"We implemented our city's largest-ever replacement shuttle service to maintain transit service through the switch. We are grateful to teams at Transit, Mobility and across the City of Calgary for their dedication in keeping people moving through these nine days. And we sincerely thank Calgarians for their patience and understanding on transit and on the roads during this time."

To thank Calgarians for their patience during the switch, December monthly transit passes are available at a 25 per cent discount.

There is still more work to be done in order for the Victoria Park/Stampede station to be ready for an official completion in concert with the opening of the BMO Centre expansion in time for Stampede 2024.

Over the coming months, crews will complete the pedestrian and vehicle track crossings at 14th Avenue and 17th Avenue, construct sidewalks and Install shelters on the inbound platform.

There will be some ongoing lane closures on Macleod Trail between rush hours and overnight through the coming months to allow for continued work on the project, the city said.