City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan

The first stage of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan project is now substantially complete, marking a significant milestone in the revitalization of the City’s urban core.

This stage was a streetscape revitalization project that included both the below and above ground rehabilitation of McLeod Avenue from Queen Street to King Street and Main Street from Church Road to First Avenue.

Members of Spruce Grove City Council and the City Centre Business Association officially marked the substantial completion of the streetscape revitalization project with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on October 23.

“We are thrilled this stage of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan is essentially complete,” said Mayor Jeff Acker. “This work is a key part of the overall plan to revitalize our City Centre and create a welcoming and dynamic space for businesses, residents and visitors.”

The streetscape revitalization project is one element of the larger City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan that is focused on making the City Centre a place where people of all ages come to shop, dine, work, live, socialize, interact, and participate in a variety of community, arts, and cultural experiences.

Previous work included the redevelopment of Columbus Park, and future work will focus on both underground and surface work along First Avenue and King Street.

With the City Centre being one of the oldest areas in Spruce Grove, the rehabilitation of the underground infrastructure was necessary to service businesses and residents and create the opportunity for new development. This included the installation of new stormwater, sanitary, and water lines and improved drainage to support current and future development.

On the surface, upgrades to the streetscape include new concrete benches, updated sidewalks, and a raised crosswalk at the McLeod Avenue and Main Street intersection to improve pedestrian visibility. Additionally, there will be over 100 trees and more than 300 shrubs planted throughout the area, along with new streetlights and grey paving stones lining the streets.

A grand opening event will be planned for the spring of 2024 where the public will be invited to attend and celebrate the new space.

While the streetscape revitalization project is significantly complete, there will be times in the spring when workers need to access the area to complete some final touches, such as landscaping, and during these times sections of the sidewalks or roads may be temporarily closed.

“I’d also like to thank the City Centre business community for their support, patience, and resilience throughout this revitalization work,” said Mayor Acker. “This is an important milestone in a partnership between the local business community and Council to create a City Centre area that is vibrant and welcoming destination and a place where businesses can thrive. I would encourage our residents to continue supporting local and we look forward to celebrating with everyone next year!”

Please visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.

All streets in the City Centre area are now open to traffic, following this year’s construction work on the streetscape revitalization project.

There may be temporary intermittent closures to complete some finishing touches in the area, and motorists are asked to watch for flaggers. Otherwise, construction in the City Centre is significantly complete with some landscaping work to finalize in the spring.

This year’s work on the streetscape revitalization project focused on surface work and landscaping along Main Street and McLeod Avenue. Last year the focus was on rehabilitating many of the critical services located beneath the city streets, such as sanitary sewer lines, water main lines, and stormwater utility lines, as well as private utilities.

Throughout September, a significant amount of paving was completed, including back alleys, and most of the streetlights were installed and energized. The last of the concrete benches were also poured, the median wall was installed along McLeod Avenue, and some of the trees were planted.

Work being finished in October includes brick inlay, adding toppers to the concrete benches, tree planting, and completing the concrete, asphalt and sod/soil tie-ins.

Thank you to motorists, pedestrians and businesses in the area for your patience throughout this construction season. The community is encouraged to continue shopping local and can visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.

Intersection of McLeod Avenue and Main Street with raised crosswalks.

As part of the streetscape revitalization project in the City Centre area, crews will be paving the back alleys adjacent to McLeod Avenue starting on September 25. This work is expected to be completed on October 4, weather permitting.

During this time, there will be intermittent alley closures with the possibility of a full closure in select areas to facilitate the required scope of work. McLeod Avenue westbound is open and will remain open during this time. McLeod Avenue eastbound will be opening to both traffic and parking between Main Street and King Street to assist with access to buildings and businesses.

Throughout the month of August, crews were busy installing the grey paving stones along areas on McLeod Avenue and pouring the remaining concrete benches in the City Centre area as part of the streetscape revitalization work.

Most of the planter boxes and tree grates have been installed and are awaiting landscaping to finish the look. Electrical has been installed and streetlights will be coming in the next few weeks.

Looking ahead

Moving into September, the work is expected to be substantially completed, which means there will only be small details left like landscape plantings and finishing work. Concrete work will be finished including sidewalks, curbs, and crosswalks and back lanes will be paved. The median wall on McLeod Avenue will have the steel and brick installed.

Please stay tuned, as additional information will be shared with the community as construction wraps up for the season and roads re-open in the area. Thank you for your patience as construction continues.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area. Please watch for and follow all construction signage and direction of construction personnel.

UPDATE: McLeod Avenue westbound has reopened to traffic as of September 7. The eastbound lane is expected to open September 8, weather permitting. Main Street in both directions is expected to open in the following days.

Starting on or about August 18, the intersection at McLeod Avenue and Main Street will be fully closed for approximately two weeks. This includes the full closure of Main Street from First Avenue to Church Road and McLeod Avenue from Queen Street to King Street. This closure is necessary to complete the concrete pedestrian crossings and complete the final paving of asphalt on the roadways.

From August 18 - 20, there will be limited access for motorists on McLeod Avenue:

• Motorists will be able to access McLeod Avenue travelling west from King Street up to the first alley where they will have to turn north.
• Motorists will be able to access McLeod Avenue west of Main Street travelling south from the alley onto McLeod Avenue.

After the weekend, this portion of McLeod Avenue will be completely closed so crews can complete the work.

There will be no street parking for the duration of this work.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Businesses will remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.

To accommodate watermain work, First Avenue at Calahoo Road will be closed for approximately two weeks. First Avenue will remain open and accessible via Queen Street. There will be no access to or from Calahoo Road from First Avenue for the duration of this work. The northbound lanes on Calahoo Road will be affected. Northbound traffic will be accommodated in the southbound lanes.

Thank you for your patience as construction continues.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.

Construction season is well underway in the City Centre!

Throughout the month of June, crews completed all the underground work including the installation of all the water and sanitary services, storm mains, and catch basins. The installation of the grey paving stones was also completed in areas along McLeod Avenue.

Looking ahead

Moving into July, residents can expect to see lots of concrete work happening, including sidewalks, curbs, and brick inlays all along McLeod Avenue and throughout the City Centre.

Thank you for your patience as construction continues.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area. Please watch for and follow all construction signage and direction of construction personnel.

Starting on Monday, May 15, crews will be working at the intersection of McLeod Avenue and Main Street. This work will not affect the westbound lane on McLeod Avenue. Drivers travelling southbound on Main Street will not be able to continue south through the intersection. Drivers will have to turn west onto McLeod Avenue. This work is expected to last three days.

Once the work at the McLeod Avenue and Main Street intersection is complete, crews will move to the McLeod Avenue and Queen Street intersection. Queen Street just south of the McLeod Avenue intersection will be fully closed. There will be no through traffic during this time. There will be no access to Queen Street from Highway 16A during this work. This work is expected to last three days

Please note that these two intersections will not be worked on at the same time. The work will be staged to allow as much access to the area as possible.

Thank you for your patience as construction continues.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.

Starting in late April, crews will be replacing the temporary lighting on McLeod Avenue between Queen Street and King Street and Main Street between First Avenue and Church Road with the new, permanent lighting. This is expected to take several weeks. During this time, lighting will be reduced.

The new lighting will be going into the median in the middle of the road. Once the underground section is complete, and the median is built, the new lights can go in.

The light from Columbus Park as well as the increased amount of daylight is expected to ensure adequate visibility for motorists and pedestrians.

Thank you for your patience as construction continues.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area

Construction in Spruce Grove’s City Centre is scheduled to resume on Monday, April 10. This will include a phased closure of several roads in the area.

• Starting April 10 – the eastbound lane of McLeod Avenue from Queen Street to Main Street will be closed
• Starting April 10 – the northbound lane of Main Street from Church Road to McLeod Avenue will be closed
• Starting April 17 – the eastbound lane of McLeod Avenue from Main Street to King Street will be closed
• Starting April 17 – the northbound lane of Main Street from McLeod Avenue to First Avenue will be closed

These closures will remain in effect for most of the summer and drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes. Pedestrian access will remain open.

This project is one element of the larger City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan that is focused on revitalizing the area and making the City Centre one of Spruce Grove’s main commercial and social destinations.

The streetscape revitalization project is focused on creating a more pedestrian focused environment by improving sidewalks and street crossings, while also incorporating more trees and landscaping. Much of the underground infrastructure is also being rehabilitated or replaced to service area businesses and residents, while also creating the opportunity for new development.

Last year most of the construction work was beneath the surface and included the installation of new water main and sanitary sewer lines, as well as underground utility installation.

For the 2023 construction season, much of the work will shift to above ground, including new concrete and asphalt, the new centre median within McLeod Avenue, new curbs and sidewalks, landscaping, and the installation of new street furniture like benches. Back alleys in the City Centre area are also scheduled to be paved this year.

As a reminder, businesses in the City Centre area remain open during the construction and the community is encouraged to continue supporting them during this redevelopment work. Visit CityCentreOpenForYou.ca for a business directory and interactive map to find businesses and parking in the area.