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By Jayson Taylor

Pedestrian underpass downtown to be closed during nighttime

Jul 20, 2023 | 5:19 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The City of Medicine Hat announced on Thursday that the walking underpass that connects North and South Railway Streets in the city’s downtown will be closed during nighttime hours. This will take effect on Sept. 4.

A gate is being built on both sides of the tunnel to be locked between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. as a result of unwanted activity taking place in the underpass.

Through downtown police patrols and staff inspections, the city says that the infrastructure is not being used as intended, particularly at night.

“Even if the risk is borne from innocent intentions like folks just trying to keep warm, the city has an obligation to do our best to protect from unintended consequences when we are aware of a safety concern that is preventable,” managing director of development and infrastructure Pat Bohan said in a statement.

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“The gates will be there permanently, we’re going to determine if we’re going to close them every night, even during the summer, that’ll be based on inspections and what we see going on in the area, for now, the intention is to start closing them on September 4, and we will keep closing them nightly until we see changes,” said Jami Motz of the City of Medicine Hat.

Sidewalks on First Street SE have been determined as an alternate route that can be used during the hours that the walking underpass is closed, the city is also currently working on extending the railing along the street.

The nighttime closure of the underpass is the first initiative under a program that is dubbed “Secure Spaces.”

More details on the closure can be found online at the City of Medicine Hat website.