Main Streets Project

Hang in there!

The Marda Loop Main Streets project will bring a whole new look to the Marda Loop business district when it is completed in late 2024.

Please keep supporting local businesses during the challenges of the construction period – they need you now more than ever

Here’s how you can shop local and stay informed:

Sign up for our Marda Loop newsletter
Get Marda Card gift cards, good at 25 Marda Loop businesses and growing
Watch for our fall Spook the Loop and Spirit of the Loop events (Santa is coming!)
Watch for our Holiday Gift Guide, coming in November
Keep coming down to support our businesses!

For the latest news on Main Streets construction progress and what’s next, go to the City site >

To accommodate construction and improve traffic flow, one-way traffic will be in place temporarily this fall on 33rd Avenue (westbound) and 34th Avenue (eastbound). Sidewalks remain open! As construction moves around, some north-south streets will be closed. Watch for detours!

Getting to Marda Loop

On foot
Walking is a great way to see Marda Loop. Business access will be maintained throughout construction, and even with construction, crossing the street is safer than ever with new lights instead of 4-way stops on 34th Avenue and 20th Street and at Garrison Gate. After construction, there will be corner bulbs at intersections to make crossing safer, and a new flashing pedestrian light at 33rd Avenue and 19th Street.
By bike or scooter:
The 20th Street bike lanes go north-south through Marda Loop. There are new bike racks installed at 34th Avenue and 19th Street, and west of 22nd Street and more coming. The Main Streets project will introduce a new multi-use path on 34th Avenue with a connection to the BRT stop on Crowchild, and there will be improvements to the 20th Street route as well.
By car:
One-way traffic flow has been introduced as a temporary measure to keep things moving during construction, 33rd Avenue is westbound, and 34th Avenue is eastbound. But if things are jammed up there are alternative ways to get to Marda Loop:
– Coming from the north? Try 26th Avenue and 20th Street.
– Coming from the south? Try 50th Avenue and 20th Street.
– Visiting the Garrison Gate area? Try using Flanders Avenue and Garrison Boulevard.
Where to park:
On street parking is still available in many areas, and many businesses have parking lots in-behind you might not have been aware of. There is underground parking, usually 2 hours free, at Garrison Gate, the Shoppes of Marda Loop (Shopper’s Drug Mart building) the Odeon/Blush Lane building and at Courtyard 33.

Some key points about the Main Streets project:

Where is it happening?

On 33rd and 34th Avenues between Crowchild Trail and (roughly) 18th Street, and immediately connecting streets

When will it be done?

The project will be complete at the end of 2024 apart from some landscaping
Things will settle down over the winter with the exception of work on 34th Avenue to bury overhead power lines

What is being done?

A new road surface and new and improved sidewalks
There will be curb extensions (bump outs) at intersections for safer pedestrian crossings and safer vehicle turn movements
Enmax will bury the overhead power lines on the north side of 34th Avenue and on 19th Street
There will be a new “multi-use path” on the south side of 34th Avenue for walking, cycling, strollers, etc. The path will also go up 22nd Street to connect to the BRT stop
New benches, planters, trees, light poles and other features
Feature areas highlighting Marda Loop history and art

Any driving and parking changes?

There will be two-way traffic (as before) on 33rd and 34th Avenues
There will be street parking on both sides of the street
Traffic lights will replace the old four-way stops on 34th Avenue at 20th St. and 22nd St., to better manage traffic flow and make the intersections safer.
A flashing pedestrian signal will be installed at 33rd Avenue and 19th Street.
Improvements to the “Loop within the Loop” area, the block between 34th Avenue and 36th Avenues, between 18th and 19th Streets, mean that 18th Street will be one-way southbound for one block, and 19th Street will be one-way northbound for between 35th and 34th Streets.

MORE INFO

There are more details, illustrations and FAQs on all aspects of the project here: www.calgary.ca/mardaloop.
Check back here as plans progress!