Granville Street Bridge - Granville Connector Project | U/C

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

That new light on the Howe ramp is useful, sure, but the 4th ramp has maybe one car per minute, so nothing really changed there.

The walking lane is a full foot below the sidewalk; it's basically part of the bike lane. Extending the actual sidewalk would've cost a little extra, but would've also actually improved walkability rather than just generating memes.

Would the weight of the asphalt/concrete to extend the sidewalk be a factor in why they didn't do that?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by GMD

I'm not sure what you are talking about - having two full lanes, protected by a concrete barrier, is a night and day change from walking /riding on the narrow sidewalk right beside traffic. Plus you no longer have to worry about crossing the pacific loop ramp and the pair of traffic lights is a huge difference maker to safety. It is not a perception, it is a very big real difference.

I don't see the difference between stepping off a foot-high curb into a car lane or into a bike lane; either way, I'm betting that most pedestrians will want to stay on the curb - which is still as narrow as ever - so IMO any increase in foot traffic is a psychological effect.

Statistically and anecdotally, only one of the lights is a difference; the 4th off-ramp sees as little traffic as the former cloverleafs (page 4), and only the first responders prevented it from being closed off to vehicles altogether.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Would the weight of the asphalt/concrete to extend the sidewalk be a factor in why they didn't do that?

Seeing as it's part of the final iteration which they allegedly ran out of money to design and build, I highly doubt that.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The walking lane is a full foot below the sidewalk; it's basically part of the bike lane. Extending the actual sidewalk would've cost a little extra, but would've also actually improved walkability rather than just generating memes.

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I don't see the difference between stepping off a foot-high curb into a car lane or into a bike lane; either way, I'm betting that most pedestrians will want to stay on the curb - which is still as narrow as ever - so IMO any increase in foot traffic is a psychological effect.

Agreed.
They need to at least install plastic bollards to separate the lower pedestrian path from the bike path. You want some type of physical barrier between faster moving users (cars/bikes) and pedestrians, whether the elevation difference or a barrier (jersey barrier for cars or bollards for bikes). That's especially true because the bikes may be approaching from behind you.

Just look at the video on Lucy Maloney's instagram announcing the opening
- the cyclist is weaving all over the pedestrian path.
That's dangerous.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMknyH9xQut/?img_index=1

Extending the sidewalk may also have required redirecting storm drains, but if the wider sidewalk was on a steel frame, water could flow underneath to the old storm drains.

PS - if they wanted the benches to reflect their temporary nature, their platforms should have been made of pressure treated wood.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Pretty much. The asphalt on the ramp says "permanent and shoddy," and the lack of markings or easy access to the multi-use lane says "this is all bike space," regardless of neither being intended that way.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I don't see the difference between stepping off a foot-high curb into a car lane or into a bike lane; either way, I'm betting that most pedestrians will want to stay on the curb - which is still as narrow as ever - so IMO any increase in foot traffic is a psychological effect.

Statistically and anecdotally, only one of the lights is a difference; the 4th off-ramp sees as little traffic as the former cloverleafs (page 4), and only the first responders prevented it from being closed off to vehicles altogether.

Seeing as it's part of the final iteration which they allegedly ran out of money to design and build, I highly doubt that.

Well they said they couldn't do landscaping/trees because the soil volumes would be too heavy of a load.

The Fir Ramp crossing receives ~40% of the traffic headed southbound so how is that insignificant?



https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/granville-bridge-connector.aspx

EDIT: Most of the weight restriction concerns seem to be centered on the concrete girder/approaches than the actual main bridge span FWIW.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well they said they couldn't do landscaping/trees because the soil volumes would be too heavy of a load.

The Fir Ramp crossing receives ~40% of the traffic headed southbound so how is that insignificant?



https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/granville-bridge-connector.aspx

Too bad the Feds couldn’t kick in money to take the whole bridge down and rebuild with something much lower and pedestrian friendly. The current one was built when there was still industry on False Creek now there’s no need for such a tall span.

[Migrant_Coconut]

It needs to be boat-accessible; Cambie's already out of bounds at high tide. Make it too low and it'll have to be a drawbridge.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

- snip -

Soil + concrete > concrete, I guess? IIRC most of the weight objection were to the pie-in-the-sky centre span.

"4th Ramp" - that's the one that branches off from the Fir Ramp, and it only sees 33% of that 40%.
At any rate, it's the Hemlock Ramp that the dangerous one because of the blind spot, and IIRC that one's still unchanged.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But the traffic lights are a huge improvement over waiting for people to stop at all those intersections and it is more safer for pedestrians with more protection from cars. The only thing missing is a staircase down to Granville Island which would actually be worthy of hype.

Not sure how preferable Granville is over Burrard or Cambie for cyclists.

One would think but on a recent run across the bridge it didn’t work so well on the Seymour off-ramp. I pressed the light, driver in the outside lane stopped, douchebag in the inner lane brought his BNW 6 suv to a screeching halt and preceded to curse me out for daring to cross!

The bridge is designed too much like a freeway for flashing light crosswalks to work well.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by whatnext

One would think but on a recent run across the bridge it didn’t work so well on the Seymour off-ramp. I pressed the light, driver in the outside lane stopped, douchebag in the inner lane brought his BNW 6 suv to a screeching halt and preceded to curse me out for daring to cross!

The bridge is designed too much like a freeway for flashing light crosswalks to work well.

Unfortunately the Seymour side will have to wait for phase 2 for a proper signalized crosswalk.

[whatnext]

For pity's sake, they should have just built a new bridge.

....Currently, CMHC Granville Island is undergoing detailed design and planning work for an elevator and staircase tower on the east side of the bridge — as opposed to the centre of the bridge or the west side of the bridge, right next to the Granville Connector.

The east side of the bridge deck currently features a pedestrian sidewalk, which was recently improved with the addition of a protective concrete barrier separating it from vehicle traffic. The City also has plans to make further improvements to this east sidewalk at some point in the future, as a major part of the overall permanent design of the Granville Connector.

To enable pedestrians and cyclists to access the west side of the bridge with ease, where the Granville Connector’s wide pedestrian and cycling pathways are situated, the intention is to establish a new traffic signal-controlled crossing in the middle of the bridge deck. This fully lit intersection would enable pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the six lanes of vehicle traffic....

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/granvill...ower-market-building-underground-parking

[jollyburger]

I doubt having a traffic light in the middle of the bridge is going to be the end of the world. I mean if you have bus stops you would still need some kind of pedestrian connection unless you stick some stairs down the side of the bridge and under to connect to the elevator.

They should turn a widened east sidewalk into a northbound cycling lane. And consolidate a pedestrian walkway/southbound bike lane on the other side.

Also ignore the fact they can't find any tenants for the Chain & Forge building

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Also ignore the fact they can't find any tenants for the Chain & Forge building

Yeah, I had noticed no businesses had moved in. Plus the old Cat’s Social House space by the community centre is still empty after how many years? Doesn’t seem like there’s a huge demand for space at what they’re asking.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I doubt having a traffic light in the middle of the bridge is going to be the end of the world.

Back in the day I remember stopping on the Connaught Bridge when the span had to open...

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Back in the day I remember stopping on the Connaught Bridge when the span had to open...

I recall that, too, from my early days. It was something that contributed to the "small town provincial" feeling that Vancouver had then. The "overgrown lumber town" vibe has largely dissipated.

[officedweller]

Ultimately, there are so many other locations for restaurants that are easier to get to than Granville Island - especially if the space has no view.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Also ignore the fact they can't find any tenants for the Chain & Forge building

amazingly enough the mexican restaurant that is there seems to be expanding (adding a new retail offering maybe?) into one of the retail units that boarders theirs ..... at least thats what the signage shows (from the inside walkway of the building)

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

amazingly enough the mexican restaurant that is there seems to be expanding (adding a new retail offering maybe?) into one of the retail units that boarders theirs ..... at least thats what the signage shows (from the inside walkway of the building)

Is it the small retail space that's been attached to the restaurant since its days as Edible Canada?

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Is it the small retail space that's been attached to the restaurant since its days as Edible Canada?

its in the breezeway and ya may be an old space not fully utilized as I dont see it on the leasing map. either way if anyone walks there there maybe they can grab a pic of whats going on.

[officedweller]

Pic by me today.

Really poor signage...

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Pic by me today.

Really poor signage...

That's the original sign. As they're still working at that end of the bridge, it's possible it won't stay like that.