It’s hard to miss the extensive network of walkways coursing through downtown Calgary. You just have to look up!
The name Plus 15 describes the network: a highway of insulated walkways sitting 15 feet above street level. With 86 bridges spanning more than 18 km and connecting more than 100 buildings throughout downtown, the weather-protected network of passages has been easing workers’ commutes since 1970 — especially during the city’s harrowing winters.
The system was championed by architect Harold Hanen as part of Calgary’s 1966 Downtown Master Plan. Construction on the first bridge started in 1969, connecting the Calgary Inn (now The Westin Calgary) and Calgary Place. The Plus 15 network has since evolved and expanded to meet the needs of our rapidly growing city, and is now one of the largest skywalk networks in North America.
The navigation app Pedesting recently added the Plus 15s to its repertoire, and The City’s 2021 Plus 15 Wayfinding Project put in place measures to implement new maps and signage in the walkways to improve navigation.
The Plus 15s made their big-screen debut in the 2000 indie film Waydowntown. The film follows a ragtag team of office workers who bet a month’s salary on who can avoid going outside the longest using the Plus 15 walkways to get around.
The newest Plus 15 bridge is set to be built as part of the Cantiro 4th Ave. Tower project, due to open in late 2027 and supported by City funding.