Pedestrian pathway opens along southwest corridor dog park

The first in a series of pedestrian tunnels under connectors to the Southwest ring road has opened, which will allow users of the off-leash dog park to enjoy the corridor in its entirety.

This tunnel, under the soon-to-be-opened Southland Drive extension to the future ring road, allows users of the pathway system to travel south from the west side of Oakridge to Cedarbrae, and back again, without having to leave the path. This provides joggers, walkers, and bicycle enthusiasts with their first real example of how the pathway system will interact with the roadway connectors to the future southwest ring road.

A similar tunnel has also already been constructed under the future 90th Avenue extension to take users from the west side of Oakridge into South Glenmore Park, but as of early January, it remained closed to users. It will likely stay this way until the spring, when weather allows for the pathway to be paved under the tunnel.

For many months in 2018, users of the pathway system have been directed off at various points by construction signage. With the unusually balmy winter weather the city has been receiving, many residents are thrilled to have access to most of the pathway system.

The ring road is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2021, although indications are that construction is already ahead of schedule. Both the Southland Drive and the 90th Avenue connections are mostly complete, with road paving on both slated for this spring.