Construction blocks walkers, drivers from downtown Edmonton section of 102nd Avenue

It started about a week ago with a few construction barricadessaying "road closed,"blocking pedestrians, motorists and cyclists from entering102nd Avenue between 100th Street and100A Street in downtown Edmonton.

The buzz, according to some peoplefrequenting the closed-off block outside the City Centre Mall, was thatthe workwaspreparationfor construction of the new Valley Line LRT project.

But city spokespersonQuinn Nicholsontold CBC News Friday that the current street closure isnot related to the LRT work on the 102nd Avenue leg oftheValley Linewillstartlater this year.

The current activity is related to a Telus project. The companyhas a building permit to work on the TelusToll Building at 10035102ndAve. until June 30.

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The work involves some huge cranes, one weighing620tonnesand another 165tonnes.

Men in hard hats Friday werehoisting equipment to the top of a building on the south side of102ndAvenue.