The skateboard park will be open during LRT construction. However, some elements along the north edge may not be in use for certain periods of time until the end of construction in 2012. The family park, basketball court, cascade fountain and Millennium clock near 9 Avenue S.W. will remain open.
Beach Volleyball Courts - Due to modifying the north parking lot and West LRT construction, the existing beach volleyball courts were removed. The West LRT project team and Calgary Parks relocated two of the beach volleyball courts to Bow River Park, which is just west of Pumphouse Theatre for the duration of West LRT construction in Millennium Park.
People can access Shaw Millennium Park at the south and west ends from 9 Avenue S.W. and 14 Street S.W. respectively.
Launching Truss and Elevated Guideway
Shaw Millennium Park is one of the main staging grounds for the West LRT project. It is also the site of the elevated guideway, which will carry trains west from the city centre. The elevated guideway will travel 1.5 kilometres from Shaw Millennium Park to Crowchild Trail where it will descend to ground level in the median of Bow Trail.
A 117-metre long launching truss crane built the 1.5 km elevated guideway in May 2011. The guideway is the first of its kind in Calgary traveling and includes Calgary's first elevated LRT station at Sunalta.
You can watch the launching truss crane in action on the How We Build the West LRT - LRT Evelvated Guideway video. Find it at the Videos and Photos web page.
Fast Facts - Launching Truss and Elevated Guideway
Launching truss dimensions: 450 tonnes and longer than a CFL football field.
Last project used: Seattle’s Central Link LRT Project.
Precast concrete segment length: three metres.
Length of elevated guideway: 1.5 kilometres.
Number of piers: 37.
Highest elevated point: Approximately 20 metres from the ground.
Elevation over 9 Avenue S.W. ramp and eastbound Bow Trail: approx. 5.5 metres to underside.
