Saskatoon Construction II

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy
City council needs to look at other impacts. They don't need a traffic bridge. They need to focus traffic to the North Bridge and leave downtown to a Transit Bridge only! BUS / EMERGENCY traffic should be the ONLY form of motorized vehicle driving over a new Victoria Bridge. Give Transit a dedicated route over the River and it becomes a better overall system! They want more people to use transit then do something about it! Think smart!

Originally Posted by Dillweed

With all due respect I think there is nothing smart about your suggestion. Not only do I think a dedicated bridge for pedestrian and or transit, emergency vehicles would be a gigantic waste of money. I highly doubt it would do anything to get people out of there cars to take transit.

Unfortunately that type of thinking is something we have to put up with here in Vancouver with people like our bike riding mayor. Who think building expensive bike lanes or things like raising the gasoline tax. Will somehow automatically make people stop driving their cars.

Like our Skytrain system, don't get me wrong I'm glad we have it, we need it and we would probably be worse off without it. But we don't seem to be able to afford it since just about every year Translink is complaining of short falls and has their hands out for more money.

But the point I wish to make is that although it's an asset to the GRVD it hasn't had the effect as advertised when they first introduced the idea to build it. It hasn't relieved congestion any where near was said it would. And here we are now spending $1 billion on the Port Mann bridge highway improvement project. Having built a 10 lane bridge and widening Highway 1 to handle more traffic.

I really fail to see the benefit of spending $30 million on a bridge that would have some pedestrian, bus traffic and the odd ambulance going over it. If you want people to use transit then give people a reason to get out of their cars. Then build a system that is affordable, efficient and gets people where they want to go in a reasonable amount of time.

I couldn't agree with you more Dillweed, having the Victoria bridge built without regular vehicular traffic and only for pedestrian/cyclists/bus/emergency vehicles would not be a good use of all Saskatoon citizens tax payers money, it would mostly get utilized only during fair weather seasons and people that aren't in walking/cycling distance of it would never ever use it.. I think it would be nice for every neighbourhood in the city to have its own dedicated pedestrian bridge to downtown but we have to share our infrastructure with all residence in city in each manner they choose to use it, you don't hear motorists wanting a pedestrian/cyclist ban on any new bridge.

Question: does any one know if the University & Broadway Bridges could be refurbished to have structural capacity for 5 lanes on top? (pedestrian/cycle below bridge deck like South Circle Bridge?)

p.s. hope Port Mann Bridge ice capades problems are all worked out and congrats on annoucement of Massey Bridge project, I've literally waited for hours trying to get thru Massey tunnel during rush hour..

[nook]

I personally don't understand the idea of a pedestrian bridge over the river. All of our bridges are technically pedestrian bridges. You'd be better off putting in one of those pedestrian overpasses you see over circle drive... same purpose and cheaper.

I'm not even sure of the impact a traditional vehicle bridge would give that area. I suppose more people might take that bridge during the 5 o'clock rush out of downtown, since it would no longer be a 100 year old bridge that is poorly maintained.

[saskatoonborn]

I can't say too much about the bridge other than I used it more as a pedestrian than a motorist I understand the need for it as far as access when an auxillary roadway when the main routes are closed off for repairs or accidents or just heavily conjested over rush hour.

However, what if the bridge was kept in reserve for such events. By that I mean it had a light signals to let traffic know when it is open, kind of how traffic used to flow over the old Kelowna bridge where the middle lane changed direction during the day.

For example I could see the bridge being open to daily traffic from 10 pm to 9:30 am and from 3:30 to 6 in the evening. During the inbetween time it would be open for the food-vans or artists to populate and be a safe and relaxing place to cross from rotary park to river landing. This would help ease rush hour congestion and free the bridge up to pedestrian traffic when it is not needed by vehicles. However it could be opened up to traffic all day if needed due to planned maintenance. This could all be accomplished with some relatively simple programming. Just a little creative thinking.

[Echoes]

This video from Tourism Saskatoon is really quite fantastic:

• Video Link

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Dillweed

With all due respect I think there is nothing smart about your suggestion. Not only do I think a dedicated bridge for pedestrian and or transit, emergency vehicles would be a gigantic waste of money. I highly doubt it would do anything to get people out of there cars to take transit.

Unfortunately that type of thinking is something we have to put up with here in Vancouver with people like our bike riding mayor. Who think building expensive bike lanes or things like raising the gasoline tax. Will somehow automatically make people stop driving their cars.

Like our Skytrain system, don't get me wrong I'm glad we have it, we need it and we would probably be worse off without it. But we don't seem to be able to afford it since just about every year Translink is complaining of short falls and has their hands out for more money.

But the point I wish to make is that although it's an asset to the GRVD it hasn't had the effect as advertised when they first introduced the idea to build it. It hasn't relieved congestion any where near was said it would. And here we are now spending $1 billion on the Port Mann bridge highway improvement project. Having built a 10 lane bridge and widening Highway 1 to handle more traffic.

I really fail to see the benefit of spending $30 million on a bridge that would have some pedestrian, bus traffic and the odd ambulance going over it. If you want people to use transit then give people a reason to get out of their cars. Then build a system that is affordable, efficient and gets people where they want to go in a reasonable amount of time.

Firstly: I don't take transit for reason of time. 1.5hrs to go from my house to work isn't my idea of a good use of my time.

Secondly: I love my car. I drive most everywhere.

Third: I want to be able to get out of my car and take transit, however without dedicated lanes for buses (BRT) and a rethink of how express buses work. This isn't likely to happen

Fourth: Without a dedicated way across the river at peak times, aka rush hour. Buses are just as slow as everybody else.

The connection between downtown to 8th street to 22nd st, up idylwyld and up warman road to name a few with priority signaling for buses and a way for them to cross the river without interaction from cars is the best thing. And the ability to turn this bridge into an LRT bridge in the future as the city expands would greatly enhance transit to a point where people can actually use the system.

Calgary has two transit only bridges out of downtown, both LRT, and if BRT would of been a thought back when those two were build I would almost certainly guess that those would be been strictly for that purpose, as might be the case here. We need to spend money (even if it seems out of place now) for the future. No 5-15 year thinking here. This is 30-50 year thinking.

The car is King right now yes. I know that and I embrace it. But build a bridge like I suggest that puts transit first and start with BRT and I will guarantee you I will be the first to use it, among a lot of others heading into / out of downtown.

[jas321]

I'm not heavily in favour of either a vehicular or pedestrian bridge - I feel both ideas have their pros and cons and I find myself in the middle.

With that said, when will we learn that we cannot build ourselves out of congestion? It is called the law of induced demand and we should be well aware of its effects, yet we (North America) continue to think we can build enough roads and infrastructure to satiate demand. However, it works the opposite - the more easy (fast, cheap, etc) you make driving your car, the more people will do it.

Again, I'm okay with the idea of building a vehicular bridge, but anyone who thinks it will solve our long-term congestion in-and-out of our Downtown is out to lunch.

[prairieguy]

[QUOTE=Echoes;6276108]This video from Tourism Saskatoon is really quite fantastic:
Can you please provide a brief description of where to find this on Tourism site? I am unable to open the video you reference in your post.

thanks!

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

And the ability to turn this bridge into an LRT bridge in the future as the city expands would greatly enhance transit to a point where people can actually use the system.

You've brought up this idea a few times now--do you think this is actually feasible? I mean sure, it's easy to say lets throw an LRT down Victoria Ave. since there's a bridge lined up with it, but do you think running an LRT down the middle of a residential area would fly with anyone? I can't see it happening, but maybe there are examples elsewhere where this has happened.

[Arts]

Based on Dillweed's comment, maybe the best idea is to build no bridge at all, why waste $30M for building a bridge that isn't needed at all.

If the traffic bridge was open to cars I would still never use it, even with my girlfriend living in Nutana, half a block off Victoria Ave. The reason I don't use it is I avoid driving downtown, I can't afford $150/mo to park, but because I can't walk to work from there (since broadway and Buckwold bridges are too far I drive to caswell hill and walk from there - Buckwold bridge is only a couple blocks over and flows very well). And for those who DO park downtown, and those driving from anywhere else in the city, the traffic bridge is also a poor location, that is much better served by the Buckwold bridge.

A pedestrian bridge for the folks in Nutana, and those who walk in Meewasin valley, would certainly be wonderful, but I agree that$30M is excessive. So maybe the city should continue to do nothing with the crossing at all. Leave it abandoned, forever or until a real genuine need arises.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Wyku

You've brought up this idea a few times now--do you think this is actually feasible? I mean sure, it's easy to say lets throw an LRT down Victoria Ave. since there's a bridge lined up with it, but do you think running an LRT down the middle of a residential area would fly with anyone? I can't see it happening, but maybe there are examples elsewhere where this has happened.

I see it happening here: Geneva



and here: Portland



Also Houston:



Looks nice as well. I think ppl always think Calgary / Edmonton style LRT when thinking about it. Street type is nicer and integrates much better.

Heck thinking about this more. Even if it is converted to LRT in the future with the type of systems shown above the bridge could still be used by traffic, bus and car, as well as emergency vehicles. Best of all 3 worlds! Multi-dimensional thinking is best. And planning for your long term, as this city has failed miserably in a lot of cases. Biggest is Circle Drive North... cough cough.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Can you please provide a brief description of where to find this on Tourism site? I am unable to open the video you reference in your post.

thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XFQ3MFTW9k

[Devon]

Looks nice as well. I think ppl always think Calgary / Edmonton style LRT when thinking about it. Street type is nicer and integrates much better.

Heck thinking about this more. Even if it is converted to LRT in the future with the type of systems shown above the bridge could still be used by traffic, bus and car, as well as emergency vehicles. Best of all 3 worlds! Multi-dimensional thinking is best. And planning for your long term, as this city has failed miserably in a lot of cases. Biggest is Circle Drive North... cough cough.[/QUOTE]

But remember, this is Saskatoon! I can see the nay-sayers lined up by the tens or even hundreds to protest this abomination of a forward thinking idea. From an early viewpoint, I like the idea and I think Victoria is perfect for it. It has nice width, enters the middle of downtown on 3rd with direct access to the bus mall (assuming that will still be used when BRT arrives.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Cicero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XFQ3MFTW9k

That's the one, thanks Cicero! Let's try this again:

• Video Link

[Echoes]

Province funds renovation of Saskatoon’s 525 20th Street

BY JEREMY WARREN, THE STARPHOENIX SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The industrial noise from streetscaping outside 525 20th Street West and the renovations inside the apartment almost drowned out Tyler Stewart’s words as he explained his new project.

“That’s a good sound,” Stewart said on Monday at an event announcing a $490,000 grant from the province for his $2 million affordable housing project in Riversdale.

“It’s part of the change happening on 20th Street.”

In April, Stewart revealed plans to renovate the three-story building at 525 20th Street, once considered one of the most notorious apartments in Saskatoon, into 12 units of affordable housing. The provincial funding ensured the project would happen, Stewart said.

“If there was not outside help, this would keep sitting vacant. It was not possible without an injection of funds.”

The project’s budget surpassed original plans when Stewart discovered he had more work to do on the inside than he first thought; however, the plan remains the same: a restaurant and retail space on the main floor and a mix of community-minded residents to fill the suites upstairs.

It’s no secret the building was a mess when it closed in 2009 due to health and safety concerns. Saskatoon police had keys to the building because officers were called there 15 to 20 times per month. Stewart is determined to save as much of it as possible.

The city put in $2,500 to help rehabilitate the building’s facade, which includes a five-decade-old 7Up ad painted on the side. Lacking sod to turn with the dignitaries on Monday, Stewart instead invited guests to take a sledgehammer to the street-level brickwork added by a previous owner to cover the original exterior.

[....]

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/saska...Saskatoon+20th+Street/8949670/story.html

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Devon

Looks nice as well. I think ppl always think Calgary / Edmonton style LRT when thinking about it. Street type is nicer and integrates much better.

Heck thinking about this more. Even if it is converted to LRT in the future with the type of systems shown above the bridge could still be used by traffic, bus and car, as well as emergency vehicles. Best of all 3 worlds! Multi-dimensional thinking is best. And planning for your long term, as this city has failed miserably in a lot of cases. Biggest is Circle Drive North... cough cough.

But remember, this is Saskatoon! I can see the nay-sayers lined up by the tens or even hundreds to protest this abomination of a forward thinking idea. From an early viewpoint, I like the idea and I think Victoria is perfect for it. It has nice width, enters the middle of downtown on 3rd with direct access to the bus mall (assuming that will still be used when BRT arrives.

I know this is Saskatoon and sadly yes, the short-term conservative views of this city (and province) are insanly against anything new and progressive. I myself am a conservative, but understand the economic and development prospective that this would generate. And yes Victoria is perfect and the 3 blocks it needs to connect to 8th street from downtown is amazing. BUT like you say there will be protestors, Although in this area of the city a lot more people are pro-transit and less car driven so it might just end up being a diamond in the rough sort of situation.

[Brutopian]

Watch a video report on The Banks development here.

(The report is by Carol Thomson of saskatoonhomepage.ca)

[Brutopian]

Dalmeny Access Roadwork Getting Closer To Completion

Written by Carol Thomson, saskatoonhomepage.ca
September 23, 2013

The weather has cooperated in the last couple of months for those doing roadwork, which has alleviated some of the issues with a late spring and an early winter last year.

Ministry of Highways spokesperson Joel Cherry says they were behind on completion of the Dalmeny Access Road, but have made up some time.
The hope is still to have the $20,300,000 project completed before winter.

[........]

Read more:
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/dalmeny-access-roadwork-getting-closer-to-completion/itemid_21

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by Cicero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XFQ3MFTW9k

Thanks Cicero!!
It is a great video...some different perspectives then the usual of the city. For those not aware, the suite that is in this video is the penthouse at The James hotel. Looks like a lot of the video was taken from one of the 3 balconies up there! Had the opportunity to see the penthouse and it is pretty spectacular if you are looking for very special overnight stay in Saskatoon!! (and nope.... I have no affiliation with them, just appreciate the quality of something like this in saskabush!!)

[North_Regina_Boy]

Steel Architectural Mesh is being installed on the North-West-East sides of the parkade at RUH this week! Looking good.

[Dillweed]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Firstly: I don't take transit for reason of time. 1.5hrs to go from my house to work isn't my idea of a good use of my time.

Secondly: I love my car. I drive most everywhere.

Third: I want to be able to get out of my car and take transit, however without dedicated lanes for buses (BRT) and a rethink of how express buses work. This isn't likely to happen

Fourth: Without a dedicated way across the river at peak times, aka rush hour. Buses are just as slow as everybody else.

The connection between downtown to 8th street to 22nd st, up idylwyld and up warman road to name a few with priority signaling for buses and a way for them to cross the river without interaction from cars is the best thing. And the ability to turn this bridge into an LRT bridge in the future as the city expands would greatly enhance transit to a point where people can actually use the system.

Calgary has two transit only bridges out of downtown, both LRT, and if BRT would of been a thought back when those two were build I would almost certainly guess that those would be been strictly for that purpose, as might be the case here. We need to spend money (even if it seems out of place now) for the future. No 5-15 year thinking here. This is 30-50 year thinking.

The car is King right now yes. I know that and I embrace it. But build a bridge like I suggest that puts transit first and start with BRT and I will guarantee you I will be the first to use it, among a lot of others heading into / out of downtown.

" And the ability to turn this bridge into an LRT bridge in the future as the city expands would greatly enhance transit to a point where people can actually use the system."

I think you would be talking the far distant future for a city Saskatoon's size. Saskatoon may be a growing city but I think you would be have to be looking at a population at least double the present population to be feasible for a LRT system. How long do you think that would take?

If you want a dedicated lane for bus traffic then add a lane to the bridge for buses only. That certainly would be far cheaper than building a dedicated bridge for bus traffic only. But I question the feasibility of even that considering it must take all of 30 seconds to drive over the SS river.

Just because Calgary a city of 1 million has a dedicated bridge for buses hardly justifys the same for Saskatoon a city of less than 300K. I just don't think that the Saskatoon transit system moves enough people for either LRT or BRT systems to be feasible. Building BRT's aren't cheap either just ask Winnipeg that.