Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts?

[theKB]

Seems to be all quiet on this front for a while now...

[spm2013]

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[theKB]

Originally Posted by spm2013

They aren't going to touch it with a 10 feet pole before the election. What removing viaducts? Just in the study phase.

So what you are saying is that the bulldozers will get fired up on November 16th

[logan5]

I would guess that Pacific would have to be rebuilt before any part of the viaducts could be removed, so even if they start the process right after the election, the viaducts wouldn't be removed for at least a couple years. I have a feeling the Kingsway Connector will be brought back from the dead when this project gets started as well.

I'm hoping that this all happens sooner rather than later. Those 2 large blocks of land will be home to a couple of thousand people who will be a big part of the revitalization process for Chinatown and the DTES.

[spm2013]

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[spm2013]

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[trofirhen]

On another thread, somone had the idea of leaving the Viaducts in place as the entranceway to a new Third Crossing of the harbour, going under and eastward to North Van, taking pressure off the LGB.
That seemed like a practical idea.
Wouldn't the Viaducts be well left for such a purpose?

[spm2013]

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[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by spm2013

It will never be built, so I doubt they would even consider that.

Too bad. In another thread, it looked like a viable option.

[moosejaw]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Too bad. In another thread, it looked like a viable option.

Nahhh
it goes against the COV policy of no more lanes into the city

[idunno]

That, and the fact that bridge crossings have decreased on both north shore bridges over the past decade (this statistic was from another thread).

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by idunno

That, and the fact that bridge crossings have decreased on both north shore bridges over the past decade (this statistic was from another thread).

And yet DNV council has halted all development in the Seymour area due to a traffic/transit infrastructure crisis.

I live near Lonsdale and second narrows traffic often backs up past my condo so I have a hard time believing things are A-OK. It was terrible a decade ago too, though.

[spm2013]

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[moosejaw]

It is true traffic has reduced by less than 5% on north shore bridges in the past ten years. I was surprised myself.
Its not much of a decrease but i would venture to say its due to
1. more expensive to live
2. more people retiring on the north shore than less people driving. The same transit options existed back then as well.
3. Im not sure if there is as much development on the north shore as there is throughout the lower mainland.

[spm2013]

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[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by moosejaw

It is true traffic has reduced by less than 5% on north shore bridges in the past ten years. I was surprised myself.
Its not much of a decrease but i would venture to say its due to
2. more people retiring on the north shore than less people driving. The same transit options existed back then as well.
3. Im not sure if there is as much development on the north shore as there is throughout the lower mainland.

It's not a local phenomenon. Driving is down across North America and in many other countries too.

[Zassk]

Every truck on the bridge reduces its overall capacity in terms of # vehicles, and there is no question that truck traffic is way up on all crossings in recent years. I suspect this is the reason for a decline in absolute numbers on old crossings like Ironworkers and Massey Tunnel.

[trofirhen]

Is there a corollary to this? Is driving down because transit use is up, or are there other factors at play as well?

[PaperTiger]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Every truck on the bridge reduces its overall capacity in terms of # vehicles, and there is no question that truck traffic is way up on all crossings in recent years. I suspect this is the reason for a decline in absolute numbers on old crossings like Ironworkers and Massey Tunnel.

People are literally just driving less. Vehicle miles traveled per capita peaked in 2007 and has been declining ever since in North America. Among Gen Y and Millennials there are fewer people getting their license than ever before and those that do get one are getting them much later.

It’s not just the Iron Workers that is seeing falling numbers. It is in and out of downtown. It is across the Massey tunnel. It is across the new Port Mann. Golden Ears is a disaster.

[Pinion]

Increasing amount of trucks from the ports counter-balancing less cars makes sense. Especially trucks that can't stay in the right lane, which seems to be most of them.