If you’ve driven into downtown from the west end lately, you know how frustrating it’s become. Construction on Stony Plain Road, 156 st and now Jasper Avenue has made access to the core increasingly difficult—and the newest disruption on 107 Avenue is the latest in a series of missteps.

Back in February, I asked City Administration directly whether they were coordinating the sequencing of these major construction projects. My concern was straightforward: that we’d end up with multiple, overlapping lane closures that would severely limit access to downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors alike  - not just from the west end, but from the southwest as well.

I was told we didn’t need to worry. In fact, I was assured that 107 Avenue would be “protected and kept unrestricted,” specifically because of the already-limited capacity on Stony Plain Road.

And yet, here we are.

The 107 Avenue revitalization project has reduced some sections between 101 Street and 121 Street to a single lane in each direction during off-peak hours. Whether it’s 9 a.m. or 3:30 p.m., a lane lost is a lane lost—and the result is more congestion and more frustration.

This isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a failure of planning and coordination. And it undermines our broader goals of revitalizing downtown.

If we want people to support downtown businesses, attend events, and feel connected to the heart of the city, they have to be able to get there—easily, efficiently, and without constant disruption.

This is what I mean when I say we need to build it better. Infrastructure isn’t just about pouring concrete. It’s about smart sequencing. It’s about making construction zones work with the city, not against it. And above all, it’s about understanding that the way we build impacts how people live, move, and interact with their city every day.

We need a City Council that puts coordination and common sense at the centre of infrastructure planning. Because building a better Edmonton means doing the basics—better.