Calgary mayoral candidates propose fixes for main street construction woes

As Calgary’s mayoral race heats up, candidates are turning their attention to a pressing issue for local businesses: the disruptive impact of prolonged main street construction projects.

For some entrepreneurs, however, the damage may already be irreversible.

In Marda Loop, a “We’ve Moved” sign now hangs on the door of Nho Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant that had served the community for over 17 years. Owner Tring Dang says the decision to relocate to 17th Avenue wasn’t voluntary—it was survival.

“The side, in front, no turn. One-way, right, and then no turn,” Dang explained, describing the maze of detours and closures that plagued the area for nearly two years. “Even the delivery company not easy to come to pickup.”

Customers struggled to reach the restaurant, often cancelling orders after failing to navigate the construction.

“They say sorry, we can’t, we don’t know how to get there,” Dang recalled.

Incumbent mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek is pledging to overhaul how the city handles major infrastructure projects. Her plan includes assigning a dedicated point person to each project and coordinating utility work to avoid repeated road disruptions.

“We need to deliver a plan that says ‘here’s how we’ll keep your sidewalk open, here’s how we’ll make sure there is enough parking for your customers,’” Gondek said. “All of that needs to be figured out before we ever start any of our construction work.”

Gondek and fellow candidate Jeromy Farkas have also floated the idea of compensating businesses affected by construction delays. But critics, including candidate Jeff Davison, argue the proposals come too late for businesses like Nho Saigon.

Brian Thiessen of the Calgary Party is also making main street projects a campaign priority. He’s calling for increased funding to accelerate completion timelines and reduce the burden on local merchants.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled its 2025 Municipal Election Platform, highlighting construction delays and traffic disruptions as major concerns for local businesses.

With nine candidates in the mayoral race and nearly half of voters still undecided, infrastructure and housing are shaping up to be decisive issues.

Advance voting runs from Oct. 6 to 11, ahead of election night on Oct. 20.