Edmonton business owners concerned, frustrated after major intersection closes for LRT construction

Kris Burwash was met with an unpleasant surprise when he arrived to work Tuesday morning: a long fence had been installed right in front of his store.

It was the latest headache related to construction of the Valley Line West LRT at the intersection of 124 Street and Stony Plain Road.

“It’s gonna affect walk-by traffic for sure because people see the construction signs and just turn around and go elsewhere,” said Burwash, the owner of Listen Records on 124 Street.

It’s been years of exasperation for Burwash.

“The most frustrating thing is we’re never talked to about it at all. Our door is literally the first door next to their staging grounds where they’ve been parked for two years. They came in to talk to us after the city and the construction company made the plan and decision to move forward.”

The full closure of Stony Plain Road and 124 Street comes after Edmonton city council approved a plan to speed up LRT development in February.

At Canna Vibes, just a few doors down from Listen Records, a worker told CityNews she knew about the closure but didn’t expect to see the area completely blocked off.

“It was actually surprising to see they’re gonna cover all this area,” said Rachel Royal.

Earlier this month, Marigold, the company responsible for the Valley Line West, told reporters the full closure will allow crews to work faster, with the shutdown of 124 Street and Stony Plain Road expected to save about 10 months of road work.

“I’m used to it by now, I just live right here,” said Chris, a resident of the area. “But people that have to commute to work, they have to find another way around the neighbourhood. People are gonna be driving around pulling their hair out.”

CityNews spoke to other residents who say the construction doesn’t bother them.

“I’d rather have the street shut down for six to eight weeks and get it done at the same time and then they can put the train through,” Rolland Sarasin said.

“I take the train quite often, so it’s nice to have a train close by and probably revitalize the area a little bit too,” said another resident. “The quicker they do it, the quicker it’s done.”

Stony Plain and 124 Street is one of several intersections Marigold plans to close this summer, each for several weeks.

Work on the approximately $2.7-billion Valley Line West LRT began in 2022 and is now expected to be finished construction in late 2028.