[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

Nice work! Reminds me of the dogbone roundabout on Harrisville Blvd. Only change I would make is to eliminate the onramp from Baig to Wheeler. If you are dumping Baig Traffic onto Salisbury Rd, then you wouldn't want/need to have them further clogging up Wheeler from Baig. Just have all Baig traffic hit the lower roundabout off Salisbury.

The reason I kept the ramps on Baig was to remove extra traffic from the south roundabout that would be heading towards Main. I see your point though, traffic heading in any direction may opt to use this ramp. The off ramp, I would keep as it’s simply a short cut to getting on to Baig coming from the north.

[jonny golden]

I wonder if there's anything going on with the Ashford proposal for the 6 floor mixed use building on the corner of Main & Cameron. It seems like Ashford has ceased any new construction (at least for now) - maybe they're waiting for next year and the Assomption project?

This building would be a big improvement over the existing older automotive building, especially being in the Avenir neighbourhood.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Made an update. I had previous pushed the Toyota parking lot towards the roundabout, so I pulled that back, left the old overpass visible as a reference point, removed the on ramp from Baig and most importantly both roundabouts are now the exact same size. Another question, is it possible that the new access to Salisbury road from Baig could go under the tracks? I'm not familiar with the grading is this area, but I feel like the tracks are still pretty elevated here.

[Sandbagger]

In this diagram is Baig cutting through the Loblaws/Toyota parking lots, or is it already a city street that stops at the tracks?

I don't really mind this, but it looks like you might be just moving the congestion point from the NW entry where it is now to the SW point at Salisbury road. I could easily see highway traffic congesting the west portion of the north roundabout and then not yielding to the combo of Main St/Assomption traffic. Would a true dog bone fix that?

[Franco401]

I drew up a similar plan quite a while back, yours is better. The one thing I want to add is the opportunity for a road diet on Main, since Assomption will be built as a controlled-access boulevard that people will give you a lot more vehicle capacity in and out of downtown, you reduce Main to three lanes with a centre turning lane instead of the insanely dangerous four-lane design (which is literally the most dangerous road you can build). This is a very long-term project, but by reconstructing the street to have sidewalks on both sides, including crosswalks at every block, and rezoning for mixed-use you could have exactly the type of urban corridor the city should be imagining. This may seem unrealistic now, but the existing land use (auto shops, motels, car dealerships, gas stations, fast food) is not only unfit for the location but dependent on car traffic that will be transferred onto Assomption. These businesses are exactly the type that don't need to be anywhere near downtown. The corridor also already has 30-minute bus frequency all day, which is pretty much exactly what you would try to implement to encourage development on a corridor. There are also vacant lots which could be rezoned immediately to kickstart things. This is pretty far-fetched right now, but as a long-term plan it's something Moncton needs to plan for if the city is serious about sustainable urban development.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Another question, is it possible that the new access to Salisbury road from Baig could go under the tracks? I'm not familiar with the grading is this area, but I feel like the tracks are still pretty elevated here.

I don't think Baig could go under at that point. When you look at the Salisbury Rd. side, it's quite the decline when you get closer to the circle.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by Franco401

I drew up a similar plan quite a while back, yours is better. The one thing I want to add is the opportunity for a road diet on Main, since Assomption will be built as a controlled-access boulevard that people will give you a lot more vehicle capacity in and out of downtown, you reduce Main to three lanes with a centre turning lane instead of the insanely dangerous four-lane design (which is literally the most dangerous road you can build). This is a very long-term project, but by reconstructing the street to have sidewalks on both sides, including crosswalks at every block, and rezoning for mixed-use you could have exactly the type of urban corridor the city should be imagining. This may seem unrealistic now, but the existing land use (auto shops, motels, car dealerships, gas stations, fast food) is not only unfit for the location but dependent on car traffic that will be transferred onto Assomption. These businesses are exactly the type that don't need to be anywhere near downtown. The corridor also already has 30-minute bus frequency all day, which is pretty much exactly what you would try to implement to encourage development on a corridor. There are also vacant lots which could be rezoned immediately to kickstart things. This is pretty far-fetched right now, but as a long-term plan it's something Moncton needs to plan for if the city is serious about sustainable urban development.

I have said that for a long time. West Main is suicide for a bicycle.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I didn’t figured Baig could fit under the tracks but figured I’d put it out there to see if anyone had any thoughts.

I have the same thoughts about west main. Long term, they need to make this a 2 lane road. I wouldn’t even mind having a grade separated multi use path. This could connect to the one I had proposed that could go down under the existing eastern rail overpass.

I feel like Saint George could also use a road diet. A VERY long term thought that I’ve have for Saint George OR west Main is to have a street car system. There would have to be SIGNIFICANT growth along both of these corridors for this to work though. But the space is certainly there to build it.

[J81]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It's a very good question, but, I think it must have been planned this way. The last time, they did not install a sidewalk along the side of the courthouse, which I thought was peculiar. This was probably in anticipation of this additional work. I believe a sidewalk is being put in this time.

They couldn’t have waited until after the Atlantic Nationals this weekend to start that? Terrible timing.

[jonny golden]

[jonny golden]

Testing

[Riberview]

Originally Posted by Mud

Anyone know why they've dug Westmorland back up? Was the previous work not done a year or two ago?

The work done last year was a mix of starting upgrades to underground systems but mostly adding dirt (weight) to the road bed so it would compact fully.

You may recall prior to building the new causeway bridge, they had put quite a pile of dirt where the road bed was going to be, and then removed it.

Same reason.

This year there is some underground work, but also removal of the excess dirt used for compaction.

[Riberview]

Further to above; once they're done from Assomption to the courthouse gates, they're rebuilding from the courthouse gates to Main St.

This project consists of street reconstruction, underground ducts, new storm sewer, and combined sewer renewal on Westmorland Street from Assomption Boulevard to Main Street.

The following streets are included in the Westmorland Street Reconstruction project: Westmorland St.

Total Project Budget: $7.5 million

Project Start Date: June 23, 2025

Projected End Date: October 31, 2025

Status: 4% complete

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by Riberview

Further to above; once they're done from Assomption to the courthouse gates, they're rebuilding from the courthouse gates to Main St.

This project consists of street reconstruction, inderground ducts, new storm sewer, and combined sewer renewal on Westmorland Street from Assomption Boulevard to Main Street.

The following streets are included in the Westmorland Street Reconstruction project: Westmorland St.

Total Project Budget: $7.5 million

Project Start Date: June 23, 2025

Projected End Date: October 31, 2025

Status: 4% complete

More info

With you knowing all this could you hint to us when we could see plans for the Ashford project or when they will start?

[Riberview]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

With you knowing all this could you hint to us when we could see plans for the Ashford project or when they will start?

Unfortunately no.

We do know that the city is planning to create the new street parallel to Main and Assomption, through the old CNR right of way and the like.. which will front on what is currently the rear door of Assomption. This is not in the 2025 Capital Works plan.

The Ashford project had gone for revision, but prior to that had been contingent on upgrades to underground services in the area. (See Westmorland St, and East Main St.)

[MonctonPerson]

Originally Posted by Riberview

Unfortunately no.

We do know that the city is planning to create the new street parallel to Main and Assomption, through the old CNR right of way and the like.. which will front on what is currently the rear door of Assomption. This is not in the 2025 Capital Works plan.

The Ashford project had gone for revision, but prior to that had been contingent on upgrades to underground services in the area. (See Westmorland St, and East Main St.)

It was also contingent on a city plan re: convention centre space. That has yet to return - at least in public - to council.

[MonctonRad]

They have started laying form work for Building #7 of the Franklin Yards development.

The entire development is 11 buildings, of which nine are large apartment buildings. The other two are smaller commercial buildings. As such, this development is progressing towards it's final stage (and very quickly).



The render above shows the final four buildings to be built. I wonder if they will proceed with the last two apartment buildings (on Grand Trunk) first, or will they simply continue marching sequentially eastward and build the two commercial buildings next?

[MonctonRad]

I wonder when they plan to proceed with the recladding of the Crowne Plaza Hotel?

I always assumed it would be this year (now that the Baton Rouge restaurant is open). There are however no signs of activity, I suppose they could start this fall, once tourist season is over.

[MonctonRad]

They are now working on the fourth floor of this apartment building being built on Waterloo Street by Seville Properties.



The building is getting to the point where it's stature is noticeable.

[jonny golden]

It's visible from Riverview. I can see it above the trees. Not a biggie, but better than undeveloped vacant land. It'd be nice if Seville would join the big boys and build something taller.