$18-M remake for Osborne Bridge -- Cyclists worry Osborne Bridge proposal has some flaws
Focus on cyclists, pedestrians, art
A newly rehabilitated Osborne Bridge will have separate spaces for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as an artistic component to fit in with the eclectic neighbourhood, according to plans unveiled Thursday evening.
A smattering of area residents and users of one of the city's busiest bridges discovered active transportation will be the central theme of a planned $18-million renovation. Construction, which is scheduled to begin in April, will feature one three-metre-wide walkway and two two-metre-wide bike paths.
To accommodate these features, the bridge will be widened by about five feet by extending the overhangs and replacing the existing wide median with a narrower barrier.
Matt Chislett, bridge projects engineer for the city's public works department, said the city decided against a joint pedestrian-cycling lane.
"We have a high percentage of people in the area with vision impairment or who use seeing-eye dogs and we didn't want them sharing space with cyclists," he said at an information open house at Holy Rosary Church.
Chislett said making the bridge safer for people on foot has been a concern since a vehicle jumped the curb and killed a pedestrian in the late 1980s.
He said the renovation will prolong the lifespan of the bridge for another 75 years. The Osborne Bridge was built in 1975. Replacing the bridge would cost about $25 million, he said.
Chislett said he and his team will take the most recent public feedback and potentially "tweak" bridge plans. The current schedule calls for the east side of the bridge to be closed in April, with construction finishing up in October. The following spring, the same thing will happen to the west side.
During both construction periods, traffic flows in both directions will be restricted to a total of three lanes, he said.
"It's going to be a snarl," he said, noting 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day.
Most of the time, two lanes will head south, with one going north. During morning rush hours, however, it will be reconfigured with two lanes heading north.
Chislett said an artist has been hired to incorporate art into the bridge's design, such as the handrails or at the end of the bridge.
"We want to make it an esthetically pleasing bridge to fit the neighbourhood," he said.
About 60 people came through the open house during the first three of four hours Thursday night. Gerald, whose family operates a business in the area and who asked that his last name not be published, said he appreciated the chance to voice his opinions on the project design. He said he was confident it would not result in the public relations disaster that accompanied last fall's introduction of traffic circles in several neighbourhoods.
He said he believes the bigger problem is traffic flow in Osborne Village, used by people from other neighbourhoods simply passing through on their way home from downtown.
"I think they should tunnel under the Osborne overpass and come up under the river by the (Legislative Building)," he said.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Osborne Bridge to get $17M rehab
People in Winnipeg's Osborne Village had mixed reactions after getting a look Thursday night at the city's plans for a $17-million makeover of the Osborne Street Bridge.
Some say the changes won't ease traffic congestion in the popular shopping district but others welcome the wider sidewalks and the addition of bike lanes on both sides.
"Its a step toward safety — providing somewhere for people to ride their bikes that isn't the sidewalk. I've flown up against the rail from people on their bikes a few times [while] walking over the bridge," area resident Jason Van Rooy said while at the city's open house at Holy Rosary Church on River Avenue.
Basil Lagopoulos, who owns Basil's Restaurant, which is scheduled to re-open in the spring, calls the project a disaster.
"Osborne Village has, by example, provided its citizens with an alternate lifestyle and it is slowly becoming a freeway," he said.
There are two options being considered for the project, which will extend the lifespan of the 33-year-old bridge by another 75 years.
The main difference between the options is the the space dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. Option 1 features 2.7 metre-wide sidewalks on both sides, 1.8 metre-wide bike lanes and a concrete barrier separating them.
Option 2 features a 4.1 metre-wide sidewalk on the west side of the bridge (next to southbound traffic lanes) for both pedestrians and cyclists. On the other side would be a 2.5 metre-wide sidewalk and 1.2 metre-wide shoulder on the road for cyclists.
Regardless of the option chosen, the bridge deck as a whole would be widened by about 1.5 metres.
The preferred choice recommended by the city's Neighbourhood Advisory Committee (NAC) is Option 1, primarily because it keeps pedestrians safer by separating them from cyclists.
Cyclists on the bridge will be able to link to two nearby active transportation routes: the Nassau Street route, which will connect along Roslyn Road to the Osborne Bridge, and the Assiniboine Avenue bikeway to the north.
As well, a new street level crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is proposed at Mostyn Place.
Also, the Winnipeg Arts Council (WAC) has made a grant available to incorporate public art into the refurbished structure. The selected artist, chosen through a jury process coordinated by the WAC, will work closely with the engineering and design team, states the city's website on the project.
The art might involve the railings, finials or other aspects of the bridge.
"The artist will consider input received through the collaborative planning process and public consultation including the concept of a subtle gateway to mark the transition from the lively, pedestrian-focused Osborne Village at the south end to the stately Legislative Building to the north," states the website.
Construction is set to start in April and be completed by fall 2012. Work would only be done and restricted to happen between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekend and holidays in compliance with the city's noise bylaw.
The bridge will be open during construction with a reduced number of lanes.
Cyclists worry Osborne Bridge proposal has some flaws
Global News: Thursday, December 16, 2010
Residents had their chance to weigh in on plans for the new Osborne Street bridge at an open house Thursday evening.
The existing 35-year-old bridge has some wrinkles, and is ready for a $17-million face lift.
"It's not in danger of falling down, but it's definitely time to get in and do some repairs and this work will allow us to extend the service life of the bridge by about 75 years," says the bridge project engineer, Matt Chislett.
As many as 40,000 vehicles travel across the bridge every day.
Pedestrians and cyclists also rely heavily on the stretch.
"The pedestrian crossing on the north side of the Osborne bridge, we do not need another traffic signal in this city for sure," says Cindy Wright, who walks across the bridge twice a day.
The new bridge will feature improved approach roadways and wider lanes. A divider wall will also separate cyclists, using the bike path, from pedestrians on the sidewalk. Right now they share.
"They ride and they don't give you any warning, they just all the sudden yell at you. ‘Hey, I'm walking on the sidewalk,’ they're supposed to ride on the road," says Gerry Cairns, who lives in the area.
Some cyclists feel the plans still have some flaws, because they say the bike lanes will soon shoot them out into traffic at certain points, without warning.
"The one on the northbound just kind of starts out of no where, and the one on the southbound just kind of disappears," says Curt Hull, a member of Bike to the Future, a cyclist organization.
While the city says it's taking concerns into account, it admits there are limitations to how wide they can expand the bridge, and don't expect any major chances to the plans.
Construction is set to begin in 2011.
The city plans to keep the bridge open during construction. A study is being done to reduce any headaches during roadwork.
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There was also a CTV News at Six item about the Osborne Bridge rehab on Thursday December 16th. It was almost three minutes long, and Bike to the Future's Gareth Simons (our rep on the City's Active Transportation Advisory Committee) was featured. He made numerous comments and was filmed riding over the bridge.
Bike to the Future's Mark Cohoe (City Committee Director) served on the Osborne Bridge Neighbourhood Advisory Committee (NAC) Public Consultation and Collaborative Planning Process from September to December 2009. Comprehensive background info, reports from NAC meetings, and reports from City Committee Osborne Bridge Strategy Meetings are posted on our City Committee page under Osborne Bridge Rehabilitation..