Horse Creek crossing, new lights and pipeline all on the go

TC Energy is making every effort to reduce the impact of bringing the West Path pipeline through town.

Town officials say they are impressed with how the company has been minimizing the impact, on off-leash parks, pathways, and streets.

Work on the 21.5 km pipeline loop started on Aug. 6 and by late September reached Cochrane. It runs parallel with Hwy. 22 through town and the most notable impact so far has been on the two off-leash parks along that highway corridor. 

Brad Luft, Cochrane's manager of parks and open spaces, says about half of the main off-leash park remains open while work is completed on the other side. The small dog park was temporarily closed but about a third of the park has now been reopened. 

TC Energy has closed off the portion of the off-leash dog park.

He says TC Energy expects to be out of the parks by March.

"They are doing the best possible job they can in not disrupting everyday life in Cochrane," says Luft. "They've been very cooperative to work with. They've listed our concerns and have been good to deal with."

"Once they've got this project done, they're going to rehab everything," says Luft. "It should be as good as new."

Roy Perkins walks his dog Merlin at the Hwy. 22 off-leash area daily. He is just one of the many pleased to know he'll be able to continue to do so. 

Pathways near the Bow River also remain open and likely will be for the duration of the project. 

Safety has been the number one priority, says Gerry Murphy, Cochrane's senior manager of community services.

"Their focus has been community safety first so they'll try to leave it open as much and as long as possible," says Murphy. "There is the possibility of some short-term closures but that decision will be based on public safety."

"I know they've had representatives in the off-leash park who have handed out free frisbees and water bottles. They're trying to build a relationship with the users. We appreciate and respect that."

LaFarge is completing some of the work on the Horse Creek pedestrian crossing by the town.

No roadways will be closed during the construction. That's good news, especially along an already overworked corridor. Nor will they be disrupting CP railway traffic.

"That, in itself, is a pretty good commitment to reduce any impact on Cochrane," observes Murphy.

While it may be the most noticeable project right now, two others will impact vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Construction of the Horse Creek pedestrian crossing, that connects Quigley Ave. and Horse Creek Rd. has begun. Both the town and CP have had crews preparing for the installation of the concrete platform. Once that platform is installed by CP, the town can finish their part of the job.

The pedestrian crossing was jointly designed by the town and CP. It has been a larger project than originally anticipated. Some of the siding tracks conflicted with the crossing alignment and needed to be relocated.

There's no firm completion date, but it's not that far away.

"It's a priority of both the Town of Cochrane and CP Rail to get this safe pedestrian crossing implemented," says Rick Deans, the town's senior manager of infrastructure. "CP has been pulled to some priority jobs but this one is definitely on their list to complete, we've been advised, in this construction season."

The town and CP have been working toward its completion for some time. 

New traffic lights in Sunset neighbourhood.

Certainly, from a public perspective, it's a needed trail connection. We're all excited to finally be able to implement this project," says Deans.

What is receiving mixed reviews is the new traffic lights being installed at the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Sunset Drive/Sunset Square.

The lights are being installed to improve pedestrian safety and traffic control at the busy intersection. 

The town says the lights should be operational by the end of October. They will start with flashing red lights (four-way stop) then transition to full signalization.