Cogswell Interchange

[ButterNutPecan]

Looks like they're starting to tear up the bridge.... or is it an overpass?

[JET]

Cogswell street now connected to Barrington, incoming and outgoing.

[Keith P.]

"If you like the mess we're making of Cogswell, just wait and see what we've got in store for the Windsor Street Exchange!" - HRM Planning

[DBaz]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

"If you like the mess we're making of Cogswell, just wait and see what we've got in store for the Windsor Street Exchange!" - HRM Planning

I was at the info session for Portland / Cole Harbour last night and I told the planners they are doing the best they can with a crappy situation (like every North American city it seems), and if people from both sides are bitchin' it must be a good balance.

Since both Halifax Cycling Coalition and the car lobby (as represented here) are bitchin', the Windsor St plan must be a good balance...

[ryanaye]

Waze had this on the first day, but it seems Apple Maps and Google Maps still don't show the new road configuration. Wonder how long it'll take them.

[Dartguard]

I just got back from Halifax after watching the Oilers game at my Brothers. Took the new Cogswell street both ways because I am that kind of Geek.
Works very well and other than a funny Jersey Barrier tweek near HMCS Scotian it should be smooth going. Beats the old Barrington bridge which had deteriorated quite a bit in the last year.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

Beats the old Barrington bridge which had deteriorated quite a bit in the last year.

That is what happens to structures denied of any maintenance and repair over many years, as HRM did.

[IanWatson]

The final overpass is being torn quickly. It's going to feel really different down there when the massive concrete wall across from the casino comes down.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Yes it is!



I agree, the transformation will be incredible. That's a lot of dirt/rock to be moved. Hopefully it will be a straight forward job from here.

[Mr. Hunt]

[ArchAficionado]

Looks like they're making quick progress with the demo of the retaining walls in the center of the site now that the final overpass bridge has been demolished. If the earthworks progress smoothly I'd expect we'll see substantial completion of the site and start to get a sense of how it'll all look by the end of this construction season with total completion around this time next year.

https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax...ogswell-webcam

[IanWatson]

It's pretty amazing driving along upper Barrington Street into downtown and being able to see the downtown all opened up before you. This is going to be such a major positive change.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

20240721_162911 by AJ Forsythe, on Flickr

[eastcoastal]

I was in the area this weekend... it's pretty cool to see the space opening up as all the roadways and dirt come down. I keep trying to imagine what it'll look like, but it's hard to say. I DO feel like there will be a couple challenges to the quality of the public realm once the new street grid is in place: 1) it feels like the big parkades between Purdy's Wharf and the Casino will be quite prominent and "blank," or what they call "unactivated" at street level and 2) the sewage treatment plant is in a really unfortunate location.

[IanWatson]

Concrete retaining wall along Upper Water Street is coming down. What a difference it makes to how open the area feels!

[caveat.doctor]

Just moved to Halifax from Ottawa, lots of changes since I was last here in the around 2010 or so! Some photos from today of the deconstruction progress - reminds me of when Pine and Parc were opened up in Montreal, and perhaps the closest thing we might get to the Boston Big Dig:













Going to make a big difference at street level here!

[Keith P.]

Can’t compare it to Boston’s Big Dig as zero traffic was undergrounded.

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Can’t compare it to Boston’s Big Dig as zero traffic was undergrounded.

Like the Big Dig (and Parc/Pins) it is removing an interchange and incorporating a ground level street network and some green space, which is welcome. Looking at the thread, it really is an achievement it’s actually happening!

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Like the Big Dig (and Parc/Pins) it is removing an interchange and incorporating a ground level street network and some green space, which is welcome. Looking at the thread, it really is an achievement it’s actually happening!

Both involve rerouting of some urban roadways though ours is minuscule by comparison. Otherwise there is no comparison in terms of scope. I suggest you review some of the excellent episodes of the Big Dig documentaries from WGBH on YouTube. It was an eye-opener for me.

As was true in Boston's case, the jury will be out on whether or not it was an improvement (theirs proved to be one) until it is completed.

[Wannabe Economist]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

As was true in Boston's case, the jury will be out on whether or not it was an improvement (theirs proved to be one) until it is completed.

The jury is definitely not still out on whether or not it was/will be an improvement. The interchange operated at half its potential traffic capacity and should never have been built at all. This was a massive dead space right at the heart of the Peninsula that will be transformed into a high-density mixed-use neighbourhood, the same as the rest of Downtown.