The self-cleaning washroom when it was first proposed. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Downtown Lethbridge self-cleaning washroom to be decommissioned

Sep 18, 2019 | 3:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge will be removing the self-cleaning washroom on 6th Street (Crabb Street) and 4th Ave South as of Thursday, September 19th.

“The decision to remove the washroom is due to the relocation of the downtown transit hub to the new Transit Terminal at 705 – 5 Avenue South, where washrooms are available with regular cleaning/maintenance and on-site security,” reads a press release from the City. “In addition, public washrooms in the downtown are still available seasonally in Galt Gardens and year-round at various City facilities.”

As well, “higher than anticipated maintenance costs and low volumes of use” were factors in the decision.

It was originally installed in September 2016 at an estimated price tag of $220,000.

The self-cleaning facility was built with the idea that the community needed a publicly-accessible washroom near the now-former 4th Ave downtown transit hub for passengers and drivers.

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A crane will be on-site early Thursday morning to minimize the impacts to traffic and will likely be there throughout much of the day to complete concrete work.

The city will keep the self-cleaning washroom in storage while it contemplates other future uses for it.