Victoria Bridge (Ridout St at Thames River)

[Djeffery]

Pretty sure this bridge replacement was discussed a couple years ago, but obviously not in it's own thread. Anyway, this is supposed to be replaced this year and the city has an online public information meeting on the 27th with details.

https://getinvolved.london.ca/victor...mbMqYZ4KZ4hpWo

[inimrepus]

Was there ever a design shown for this bridge? I remember a couple years ago they were deciding if the city would spend extra money to build a nicer looking bridge there and I thought they decided to.

Found the source for going with a fancier bridge https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...-go-as-planned

[GreatTallNorth2]

This is the only image that has been released so far. I think the actual detailed design comes out this next week.

[jammer139]

The discussion about this bridge a couple of years ago was flawed then as it is now. The city council and planning and transportation folks were more interested in the architecture design and keeping the arch then on the functional needs. There is no logic in replacing a 2 lane bridge that is 96 years old in the core of the city with another 2 lane bridge. Ridout is a major north south street that connects the core with the south end of the city. They should have been more interested in the function of a bridge at this location and the long term needs of transportation. The bridge should be 4 lanes wide with appropriate sidewalks and bike lanes. Nobody cares about the arch design and certainly paying millions extra for the arch design is unnecessary. 50 years from now the residents of the city will wonder who the geniuses where who replaced a 2 lane bridge with another 2 lane bridge without proper functionality. A classic example of form trumping function.



https://london.ctvnews.ca/22-million...ates-1.5750336

[inimrepus]

Originally Posted by jammer139

The bridge should be 4 lanes wide with appropriate sidewalks and bike lanes. Nobody cares about the arch design and certainly paying millions extra for the arch design is unnecessary.

I agree about the sidewalks and bike lanes, but there would be no sense in making this bridge with 4 driving lanes. There simply isn't space to expand Ridout to be 4 lanes.

As for the bridge design, spending a little bit of money for something that looks good isn't a bad thing. People shouldn't be against infrastructure that looks good and is functional.

[Djeffery]

The one thing I remember from the past discussion on here was when I started to realize that jammer thinks every road project in this city needs to involve making a highway out of it. Ridout is never going to be a wider road than it is now. If the city 50 years from now decides it should be, they are free to decide that then and spend the money. A wider bridge now would just be replaced then anyway, no need for us to put off some other project now to pay for a couple extra lanes that aren't needed here.

[jammer139]

Ridout is easily widen to 4 lanes in the future. Many examples of road widening in the past. ie: Adelaide, Oxford, Commissioners come to mind in recent decades.


I would not be surprised to see numerous high rises built along Ridout south of the river in the next 50 years. The future will be very different then the past. Just because some old homes are sitting there now doesn't mean they are not a bulldozer and a few days away from being history in the future. Here today gone tomorrow.

Originally Posted by inimrepus

I agree about the sidewalks and bike lanes, but there would be no sense in making this bridge with 4 driving lanes. There simply isn't space to expand Ridout to be 4 lanes.

As for the bridge design, spending a little bit of money for something that looks good isn't a bad thing. People shouldn't be against infrastructure that looks good and is functional.

[haljackey]

Some stats about the new bridge

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...like-1.6336669

[ssiguy]

I'm confused.

Why are people concerned about this creating more traffic when it is still only going be be one lane in each direction?

Also why does half of the bridge have walking/cycling of 4.0 meters buyt the other side considered "shared" but still with 4.0 meters?

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

I'm confused.

Why are people concerned about this creating more traffic when it is still only going be be one lane in each direction?

Also why does half of the bridge have walking/cycling of 4.0 meters buyt the other side considered "shared" but still with 4.0 meters?

The shared side is sidewalk and bikes can go both ways, mainly because the park is on that side. The other side is a separate sidewalk and a northbound bike lane.

[jammer139]

Project will build a temporary pedestrian bridge to the west side during the construction to allow folks to cross. Will go thru the Thames park tennis courts which will be removed and rebuilt after construction is completed.

[tyeman200]

Does anyone know when this officially starts? Almost the end of March and the bridge is still open. This is my main route to downtown so the next year is going to suck big time lol

[inimrepus]

They have started doing prep work already, they will keep the bridge open as long as possible to minimize the traffic impact.

[Djeffery]

Story on CTV News right now that the project is on hold because of Federal government delays regarding working in and around the river. No word on when that approval will happen.

[Djeffery]

CTV News Story..

https://london.ctvnews.ca/lack-of-fe...reet-1.5932549

[jammer139]

Yet another example of lack of planning on the part of the City for fundamental infrastructure projects.


Will likely result in extra costs and more inconvenience for taxpayers.

[Djeffery]

And further delays to Wharncliffe, which I always believe should have been done first anyway.

[tyeman200]

Wow, so the city couldn't figure this crap out earlier eh?

Like come on, they already knew they were working around the river, should have gotten the studies done long time ago.

[haljackey]

Agreed- isn't this what environmental assessments are for? To assess the environment?

We're pushing back other major infrastructure projects to get this done in 2022. What a flop.

[Djeffery]

I wonder how they know these things are endangered anyway? Hundreds of miles of river in that system and Ridout St is where these things set up shop? And what would be missed if these things disappeared from there?