A block of 6th Avenue downtown reopens this morning just in time for this years Calgary Stampede Parade. The block had been closed since last August as crews dug a 6 storey pit to build the parking lot for the new Bow building, Encana’s corporate headquarters project. One condition that the city had before allowing the city block to be closed was that the street had to reopen in time for the Stampede Parade.

High walls were constructed on both sides of the roadway so that horses participating in the parade would not get spooked. They will remain there after the parade as city crews prepare the roadway for reopening to the public in the afternoon. The walls will prevent motorists from being distracted by all the construction work down below while driving over the “bridge”.

Mac Logan, the city’s director of roads, said all traffic will be able to use the road Friday afternoon. Crews first have to move barricades put in place for the temporary bus lanes and change the timing of the lights that helped re-route cars around the area.

The block will have three lanes for traffic and a walkway along the north side for pedestrians to use. There will be no parking.

“It should be fine,” Logan said. “It’s three more lanes than we have today.”

With all of the road construction going on in the city, the re-opening of this stretch of 6th Avenue is welcome news for all Calgary drivers.