Disraeli Bridge Reconstruction (completed)

[wags_in_the_peg]

Six-lane Disraeli bridge sought
By: Bartley Kives

Updated: May 26 at 12:28 PM CDT

City council’s public works committee has formally asked Premier Gary Doer to come up with the cash for a six-lane, two-span Disraeli Bridge rehabilitation, which could cost twice as much as the four-lane, single-span repair job currently slated for next year.

In what amounts to a slap in the face to Mayor Sam Katz and most members of his cabinet, the public works committee voted 3-1 to petition Doer for the cash, which could be as much as $350 million.

Elwood Coun. Lillian Thomas, North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty and Mynarski Coun. Harry Lazarenko voted in favour of the largely symbolic move, which is bound to be turned aside when it comes before council’s executive policy committee next week.

Public works chairman Bill Clement voted against it, noting the six-lane replacement bridge is not in Winnipeg’s capital budget and claiming other projects would have to be cancelled if the scope of the Disraeli repairs was to be widened.

The province also appears to have little interest in the Disraeli project, despite a public-relations campaign being waged by NDP backbencher Jim Maloway.

Doer has said he will not consider cash for a six-lane Disraeli Bridge and Overpass until he sees an engineer’s report.

City engineers are only exploring four-lane options.

[JayM]

They should be upgrading Redwood/Louise bridges to take the extra loads when the time comes. Build another 2 lane bridge by Louise northbound and southbound.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by JayM

They should be upgrading Redwood/Louise bridges to take the extra loads when the time comes. Build another 2 lane bridge by Louise northbound and southbound.

They should have upgraded Redwood first instead of retrofitting it, they knew at that time that the Disreli was in dire need of repairs. Is there even a planning dept. in Winnipeg?

[JayM]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

They should have upgraded Redwood first instead of retrofitting it, they knew at that time that the Disreli was in dire need of repairs. Is there even a planning dept. in Winnipeg?

Apparently the only thing they prepare for is when things get the most extreme. Thinking about the future is something they don't do.

[1ajs]

the plan i herd from city guys was a 4 lane bridge to replace the liouse
and the redwood to be removed eventualy

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

the plan i herd from city guys was a 4 lane bridge to replace the liouse
and the redwood to be removed eventualy

Eventually, since they obviously gave Redwood Bridge another 40 years to stand the test of time.

I really don't know which seems more logical and fits more to what Northeastern Winnipeg REALLY needs; either a refurbished double humped Disraeli "Freeway," or a "single humped" Disraeli Bridge straight through with six lanes instead of 4?

I wonder what the residents of Point Douglas has to say about this...?

[JayM]

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

Eventually, since they obviously gave Redwood Bridge another 40 years to stand the test of time.

I really don't know which seems more logical and fits more to what Northeastern Winnipeg REALLY needs; either a refurbished double humped Disraeli "Freeway," or a "single humped" Disraeli Bridge straight through with six lanes instead of 4?

I wonder what the residents of Point Douglas has to say about this...?

Either way a new bridge with the capability of handling 4 lanes of car traffic along with biking/walking is needed. I suggest they enhance the Higgins/Narin traffic with a 4 lane then shutdown Disraeli this way there is atleast still a double lane traffic bridge into East Kildonan/Elmwood area. Then they can take the pos down then maybe they can have a better look at it.

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by JayM

Either way a new bridge with the capability of handling 4 lanes of car traffic along with biking/walking is needed. I suggest they enhance the Higgins/Narin traffic with a 4 lane then shutdown Disraeli this way there is atleast still a double lane traffic bridge into East Kildonan/Elmwood area. Then they can take the pos down then maybe they can have a better look at it.

Or just say "fuck it" and pull a Boston by building a tunnel underneath and kill the "Green Monster" for good.

[fengshui]

We need to learn from Toronto, who are rethinking the wisdom of the Gardiner Expressway. Even the Mayor there has apparently reversed his position and wants to get rid of the elevated freeway. The whole Disraeli should be rethought in conjunction with a plan for Point Douglas. Do it once and do it right.
----------------
Chop Gardiner Expressway, Toronto Mayor Miller says - In a major turnaround, Mayor David Miller now says he supports removing a portion of the Gardiner Expressway to revitalize Toronto's waterfront. And he will probably have the votes to get it through city council, according to a prominent councillor not aligned with the mayor. Waterfront Toronto, the government agency that manages much of the city's lakefront, issued a news release last night saying it would outline plans today to tear down the Gardiner from Jarvis St. to the Don Valley Parkway.
Toronto Star, May 30, 2008 Globe and Mail, May 30, 2008

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

Eventually, since they obviously gave Redwood Bridge another 40 years to stand the test of time.

I really don't know which seems more logical and fits more to what Northeastern Winnipeg REALLY needs; either a refurbished double humped Disraeli "Freeway," or a "single humped" Disraeli Bridge straight through with six lanes instead of 4?

I wonder what the residents of Point Douglas has to say about this...?

theres enuff room to do it............ manitoba hydros centra gas sight splits the nieborhood up more then the bridge ever did....

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by fengshui

We need to learn from Toronto, who are rethinking the wisdom of the Gardiner Expressway. Even the Mayor there has apparently reversed his position and wants to get rid of the elevated freeway. The whole Disraeli should be rethought in conjunction with a plan for Point Douglas. Do it once and do it right.

If you learn from Toronto nothing will ever get done, because nothing gets done here. This is approximately the five zillionth "plan" for Toronto's waterfront to emerge since I've been here and it's still a combination of derelict land and obnoxious condo developments. Winnipeg's city council is a model of efficiency compared to our dimbulbs.

[fengshui]

^ Understood. But by "learn", I really mean deciding whether an elevated roadway serves to enhance or detract from a viable urban neighbourhood.

[flatlander]

^^^Couldn't agree more. Would be nice to improve the disraeil/main intersection too, with a bit more of a gateway to downtown and chinatown.

[fengshui]

The City has posted the notice for DBFM of the Disraeli on their procurement page. The document indicates that the request for qualifications will be issued by June 30.

An information session for prospective bidders is scheduled for June 18 at the Millennium Library. Weird how the date on the photo below could be almost anything - not much has really changed in that view for a long time.

[1ajs]

that photos gota be early 90's late 80's

[fengshui]

From the Freep
----
Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet has voted to ignore another committee's recommendation to ask Premier Gary Doer to fund a six-lane Disraeli Freeway.
Last week, city council's public works committee -- whose members include two northeast Winnipeg councillors -- voted to press Premier Gary Doer to come up with extra money to help the city build a two-span, six-lane Disraeli Freeway, instead of rehabilitating the existing four-lane structure
The move was a symbolic gesture, as Winnipeg is already pursuing plans to fix the Disraeli at an expected cost of $125 million to $160 million.
As expected, council's executive policy committee quashed the recommendation, voting 4-1 to "receive it as information."
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt voted against his fellow EPC members. Couns. Mike O'Shaughnessy (Old Kildonan) and Brenda Leipsic (River Heights) were not present.

[1ajs]

good 6 lanes is not needed though would be cool if they did it and built a cable stay bridge

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by fengshui

From the Freep
----
Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet has voted to ignore another committee's recommendation to ask Premier Gary Doer to fund a six-lane Disraeli Freeway.
Last week, city council's public works committee -- whose members include two northeast Winnipeg councillors -- voted to press Premier Gary Doer to come up with extra money to help the city build a two-span, six-lane Disraeli Freeway, instead of rehabilitating the existing four-lane structure
The move was a symbolic gesture, as Winnipeg is already pursuing plans to fix the Disraeli at an expected cost of $125 million to $160 million.
As expected, council's executive policy committee quashed the recommendation, voting 4-1 to "receive it as information."
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt voted against his fellow EPC members. Couns. Mike O'Shaughnessy (Old Kildonan) and Brenda Leipsic (River Heights) were not present.

I'm not going to argue the merits of a four or six lane Disraeli, but has Katz ever said 'YES' to anything?

Just curious..

[Jimbo]

Yeah, we may not need 6 lanes now, but the city is growing and will continue to grow.

[bimbamboom]

New group opposes Disraeli bridge closure
CJOB's Robert Holland reporting
6/5/2008


About 100 people gathered Wednesday night to form a new Citizens Group opposed to the closure of the Disraeli Bridge..
Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway told CJOB they want the city to opt for a six lane bridge so one span can be built and opened before re-construction work starts on the current span.
He says closing the bridge for 16 months, as proposed, would create a traffic nightmare on other bridges..
Maloway says the community interest in the issue has been phenomenal..
He says they have received more than one thousand responses including e-mails and tear outs from the Herald magazine and almost all oppose the bridge's closure..