Successful Partnering ensures one of Canada's most recognized main streets is completed on schedule and under budget

Underground construction on Banff Avenue at Caribou Street

Located in Banff National Park in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Town of Banff is a picturesque mountain community which attracts about 4 million visitors per year.

In 2005, with special grants from the Alberta government, the Town decided to implement a downtown enhancement concept along Banff Avenue in the downtown core. Enhancements included streets and sidewalk upgrading, custom street-lighting, street furniture, rest areas, enhanced directional signage, landscaping, as well as improved pedestrian access. Associated Engineering provided the Town with project management services for the first phase of the project. John Grainger, P.Eng., Project Manager and Senior Municipal Engineer with Associated Engineering's Calgary office, was seconded to Banff?s Engineering Department as the Town's Project Manager for this $22.8 million initial phase of this major urban renewal project, which has been dubbed Banff Refreshing. John was responsible for coordinating the design and construction program, retaining design and construction management consultants, liaising with business groups, assisting in marketing the program and communications with the public, coordinating contractor procurement, and administering construction. The Town extended Associated Engineering's responsibilities to include completing a predesign study and preparing a predesign engineering report for the Banff Avenue portion of the Banff Refreshing project. Associated Engineering also completed a construction traffic management study.

The first construction stage of Banff Refreshing took place on the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue. The project was initially developed as a streetscape and beautification project; however, it quickly became apparent that the 100-year-old municipal infrastructure underneath Banff Avenue would also require replacement, making the project a full-scale urban renewal project. The scope of the Banff Refreshing included:

1. Replacing all sanitary and storm sewers, watermain, and appurtenances
2. Replacing water and sanitary service connections
3. Reconstructing curb and gutter
4. Building enhanced, wider sidewalks and new paved roadways
5. Constructing pedestrian-friendly amenities including mid-block pedestrian crossings, larger intersection corner bulbs, new street furnishings, planting beds, and landscaping features
6. Replacing existing street-lighting and traffic signals.

Because the project is within Banff National Park, an Environmental Impact Assessment was prepare for the project and submitted to Parks Canada in accordance with regulations and requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Species at Risk Act, the Banff National Park Management Plan, and the Town's Community Plan.

The consulting engineering firm, Earth Tech was retained to complete the design and undertake construction inspection services under Associated Engineering?s supervision and direction. Landplan Associates provided landscape architectural services, and Standard General of Calgary was selected as the general contractor.

Rather than the traditional tendering process, the Town selected the general contractor for the project based on the submitted Expressions of Interest and Statements of Qualification. Once Standard General and their electrical and landscaping subcontractors were selected, a comprehensive unit price contract was negotiated between the general contractor and the Town. Before construction started, the contractor worked with Associated Engineering and the design team to finalize design details, improve the construction contract documents, and suggest mitigative measures to help minimize impacts to businesses and reduce overall scheduling and construction risks.

(L-R) John Stutz, Mayor of Banff, George Tucker, Superintendent from Standard General, and John Grainger, Associated Engineering Project Manager on site during paving operations

Originally the project was expected to take two to three years to construct, which would have impacted Banff?s downtown shopping district for a lengthy period. However, the contractor had the depth of experience and resources to complete the majority of the proposed work in a single, long construction season. Construction commenced in March 2007 and was completed in November 2007, leaving only the second lift of roadway asphalt, concrete crosswalks, and landscaping for early 2008. Establishing a Partnering approach between the contractors, suppliers, engineers, project managers, and the owner helped the project team to complete most of this large infrastructure renewal project in one construction season, thus reducing the impact on businesses, residents, and tourists.

Working with Town staff, John Grainger addressed many of the issues that arose on this project. John advises, "Coordination was very important to effectively deliver this very high profile and important project on one of the most recognized main streets in Canada."

The Banff Refreshing project received the 2007 Top Civil Project Award from the Alberta Construction Magazine.