The City of Lethbridge has approved the next steps for the downtown bike lanes. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Bike lane construction to continue, city to monitor use

May 15, 2024 | 8:40 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge is not doing away with its new cycling lanes, at least not right now.

At the Tuesday, May 14 regular council meeting, members voted to approve a series of recommendations from its Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee.

The first lanes were installed in late 2023, but winter weather put the rest of the project on hold.

Senior Project Administrator with the city’s Transportation Department Bryce Dudley says construction is set to resume on May 27 and should last approximately four weeks.

“This phase of the project will connect the 7 Avenue bike boulevard to the lanes in Downtown Lethbridge,” says Dudley. “More information on that construction will be shared in the coming days and weeks, including direct letters to businesses and residents, proposed timelines and road closure impacts.”

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The upcoming work will include:

• Asphalt patching work on 7 Street South between 6 Avenue and 7 Avenue, scheduled from May 27 to May 28
• Concrete work at the intersection of 7 Street and 5 Avenue, scheduled for the week of May 27. This work also includes parking lot repairs and asphalt re-surfacing to the two angle parking areas on 7 Street immediately south of the 5 Avenue intersection. This work will be localized and will have impacts to street parking in the immediate area while the work is underway
• Finishing protected lanes on 7 Street between 4 Avenue and 5 Avenue
• Some minor repairs along the existing routes
• Road line painting work: This final step is scheduled for mid to late June. This work will include green “sharrows,” indicating a shared driving lane for bicycles and motor vehicles

The City says it is committed to providing adequate notice to businesses and residents, including:

• Directly notify stakeholders in writing of upcoming construction (the first will be sent on Wednesday)
• Staff available to work with affected businesses to minimize disruptions and find solutions that will work for everyone
• Update online construction maps, the Get Involved website, issue Public Service Announcements and engage with media outlets to help amplify construction notices
• Mobilize and commence construction, providing project updates as needed
• Close the project and follow up with affected business

Councillor Mark Campbell says, going forward, the city will monitor how the bike lanes are used.

“We know this has been a major topic of discussion in the community, so we wanted to do our due diligence in gathering more information from our residents,” says Campbell. “By having yearly usage updates during the next two summers, Council will be able to use new data to best inform future decision making.”

Administrative staff will provide an update to council next summer and in the summer of 2026.

The bike lane project was approved in the 2017 Cycling Master Plan.

READ MORE: Part two of bike lane safety video series released by City of Lethbridge

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