Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts? - Page 244

Stingray2004 · #**4861** Posted **May 23, 2017, 6:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

Ignorance is bliss. They're coming down.

Hahahaha! Atta boy!

VancouverOfTheFuture · #**4862** Posted **May 23, 2017, 7:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

Ignorance is bliss. They're coming down.

can you give some proof of that? since the requirements were posted above and most haven't been done. this does go above local municipal government.

WarrenC12 · #**4863** Posted **May 23, 2017, 3:21 PM**

Over the past week or so they have been digging up and hauling out dump trucks full of dirt from under the viaducts. Does anybody know what this is about? Soil testing? Getting rid of contaminated soil? Unrelated project?

Changing City · #**4864** Posted **May 23, 2017, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Over the past week or so they have been digging up and hauling out dump trucks full of dirt from under the viaducts. Does anybody know what this is about? Soil testing? Getting rid of contaminated soil? Unrelated project?

It's where the contaminated (or potentially contaminated) soil from other holes in the area gets stored before being trucked away. Most recently it's where the soil dug out from the site for The Arc was stored. That location has been used on and off for several years.

Once they get past the organic and contaminated layers, down to the glacial material, it generally doesn't seem to have to be stored, presumably because it's 'clean' and can go straight to off-shore dumping.

the_prof · #**4865** Posted **May 24, 2017, 5:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Translink has final say. It is what it is.

From the Sep 23, 2016 Translink open board meeting minutes (google)

"Replacement of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts: TransLink is working with the City throughout this project to review and advise on transit operations, impacts on the MRN, goods movement, and cycling routes of the replacement of the viaducts with an at-grade street network."

WarrenC12 · #**4866** Posted **May 24, 2017, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_prof

From the Sep 23, 2016 Translink open board meeting minutes (google)

"Replacement of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts: TransLink is working with the City throughout this project to review and advise on transit operations, impacts on the MRN, goods movement, and cycling routes of the replacement of the viaducts with an at-grade street network."

The CoV is probably Translink's biggest ally in the region. To suggest they will fight over this is not recognizing the overall politics in the area. They may be having a few heated discussions behind closed doors, but I don't see them as much of a roadblock in this process.

Stingray2004 · #**4867** Posted **May 25, 2017, 4:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_prof

From the Sep 23, 2016 Translink open board meeting minutes (google)

"Replacement of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts: TransLink is working with the City throughout this project to review and advise on transit operations, impacts on the MRN, goods movement, and cycling routes of the replacement of the viaducts with an at-grade street network."

Actually am fully aware of same from quite awhile back but doesn't really mean or say much. Nevertheless, Translink treats all munis, within their realm, equally in terms of the "tests" for removal of both MRN and MTR roads from their networks.

Have already posted herein, long ago, the written decisions of Translink opposing the removal of MRN and MTR designations, which were unanimously supported by Surrey and Delta municipal councils in their jurisdictions respectively. That's just two among many.

Translink does not favour one muni over another - all are treated the same. And we have their precedent decisions in that regard.

SpongeG · #**4868** Posted **May 25, 2017, 6:38 AM**

oh they should transform them, its the best most ecology minded idea, where will they bury all the old concrete eh

• Video Link

Migrant_Coconut · #**4869** Posted **May 25, 2017, 6:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

oh they should transform them, its the best most ecology minded idea, where will they bury all the old concrete eh

It's not a complete demolition - again, they're keeping part of Duinsmuir as a greenway a la the High Line.

Vin · #**4870** Posted **May 26, 2017, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

It's not a complete demolition - again, they're keeping part of Duinsmuir as a greenway a la the High Line.

No it won't be a High Line. It will just be an oversized balcony as it will end a short distance from the slope.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4871** Posted **May 26, 2017, 4:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

No it won't be a High Line. It will just be an oversized balcony as it will end a short distance from the slope.

Nyet. Check the graphic again.

The planned Duinsmuir Connection preserves about 500m (five blocks) or half of the original viaduct - repurposing it and forcing the City/Concord's architects to build around it, rather than just bulldozing the whole thing and going from there. Nowhere near as large as Manhattan's, but neither a "balcony" nor "short" by any definition of those words.

Aroundtheworld · #**4872** Posted **May 26, 2017, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Nyet. Check the graphic again.

The planned Duinsmuir Connection preserves about 500m (five blocks) or half of the original viaduct - repurposing it and forcing the City/Concord's architects to build around it, rather than just bulldozing the whole thing and going from there. Nowhere near as large as Manhattan's, but neither a "balcony" nor "short" by any definition of those words.

The part I'm confused about is where does the Dunsmuir Connection touch down? Is it before or after Carrall St.? My thoughts are it will probably be before Carrall St. as that improves the connectivity of the bike network, even this graphic seems to suggest the opposite.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4873** Posted **May 26, 2017, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

The part I'm confused about is where does the Dunsmuir Connection touch down? Is it before or after Carrall St.? My thoughts are it will probably be before Carrall St. as that improves the connectivity of the bike network, even this graphic seems to suggest the opposite.

If they haven't changed anything, it'll pass over Carrall (possibly connecting to it via secondary ramp) and land somewhere on Quebec.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4874** Posted **May 26, 2017, 7:33 PM**

City Hall just uploaded their traffic sim for the new street grid. It should theoretically be able to handle existing traffic levels.

• Video Link

VancouverOfTheFuture · #**4875** Posted **May 26, 2017, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

City Hall just uploaded their traffic sim for the new street grid. It should theoretically be able to handle existing traffic levels.

• Video Link

oh good, so in theory it can handle todays volume. it is like the region wont grow by 1 million people over the next 20 years. oh wait...

i like how they say "it saves money" considering the money to upkeep them over the next 40yrs was less then to tear them down today.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4876** Posted **May 26, 2017, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

oh good, so in theory it can handle todays volume. it is like the region wont grow by 1 million people over the next 20 years. oh wait...

i like how they say "it saves money" considering the money to upkeep them over the next 40yrs was less then to tear them down today.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger.

Yeah, and since we have no transit major projects underway downtown, I think City Hall expects a million people to bike into the core from the suburbs.

Pinion · #**4877** Posted **May 26, 2017, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

oh good, so in theory it can handle todays volume. it is like the region wont grow by 1 million people over the next 20 years. oh wait...

i like how they say "it saves money" considering the money to upkeep them over the next 40yrs was less then to tear them down today.

That traffic didn't even look anything like "today's volume." Maybe 1995. What a joke.

SFUVancouver · #**4878** Posted **May 26, 2017, 10:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

oh good, so in theory it can handle todays volume. it is like the region wont grow by 1 million people over the next 20 years. oh wait...

i like how they say "it saves money" considering the money to upkeep them over the next 40yrs was less then to tear them down today.

The traffic counts for the downtown peninsula apparently show that fewer cars come into the peninsula today (or when the quote was generated within the last decade or so) than in the 1960s. I have full confidence that the revised road network will be sufficient.

As for the cost, I have no opinion on that. My recollection was that there was going to be a significant mid-life upgrade capex hit to the City but I don't know how that compares with the removal/replacement plan.

Aroundtheworld · #**4879** Posted **May 26, 2017, 11:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

If they haven't changed anything, it'll pass over Carrall (possibly connecting to it via secondary ramp) and land somewhere on Quebec.

This image seems to show it touching down at Carrall. In any case, it's something I'm sure will be clarified in the future.

Migrant_Coconut · #**4880** Posted **May 27, 2017, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

This image seems to show it touching down at Carrall. In any case, it's something I'm sure will be clarified in the future.

Yeah, the photo's at a bad angle. See that grass-coloured strip next to the SkyTrain sloping down to Science World? That's the end of the greenway.