Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[Gat-Train]

Couldn't we build a bridge to Gatineau around the Lincoln Fields area, that connects to the SJAM parkway? Or better yet: why not run ferries? (granted this would be impossible in the winter)

[rocketphish]

Rebuild or replace? MP says expect disruption on Alexandra Bridge either way
Bridge needs an overhaul sometime in the next few years, says MP Steve MacKinnon

CBC News
Posted: Mar 19, 2019 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Whether the Alexandra Bridge is replaced or significantly rebuilt, Gatineau MP Steve MacKinnon says residents in the National Capital Region should prepare to live without it for some time.

The bridge, which opened in 1901, carries nine per cent of the Ottawa-Gatineau vehicle traffic and a third of the pedestrian and cyclists crossing the Ottawa River between the cities.

It is up for some significant lane closures from 2019 to 2022, but MacKinnon said that could only be the start.

MacKinnon is also the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the department which owns the bridge. He said the department is still considering whether the bridge needs a major overhaul or a complete replacement.

"It is six of one and half of a dozen of the other," he said. "A replacement or a refit of the bridge has the same effect. That bridge will be withdrawn from service for a period of time."

He said the upcoming work is about keeping the structure safe in the meantime, but within ten years it will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

MacKinnon also said he is continuing to advocate for another span in the region to handle the increased traffic as the populations of both Ottawa and Gatineau grow.

"Even before losing the Alexandria Bridge, we require a sixth and possibly a seventh bridge, that is mere mathematics and that decision will have to be taken in concert with our partners in the region."

Ottawa city Coun. Mathieu Fleury said he would like to see the government engage in broader consultation about the replacement of the bridge.

He said he also wants to know where the traffic will go when the Alexandra is closed.

"When you see a closure like that you assume that an alternative corridor would be identified," he said.

He said both the City of Ottawa and City of Gatineau have identified the Kettle Island Bridge near the Rockcliffe Airport as an important link and he would like to see the federal government commit to it.

with files from Radio-Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/alexandra-bridge-steve-mackinnon-1.5061751

[Aylmer]

Before we rush to build MacKinnon's 2+ bridges in anticipation of the coming bridgepocalypse end of days, I think that this would be a good time to drop your annual reminder that interprovincial traffic numbers are actually dropping, as per the latest OD Report in 2011.

"Generally, the distributions of trips – that is, the proportions of trips crossing the Ottawa  River and the proportions that remain within each region – have been stable, with little  variation over the years. However, it is important to note that the absolute volumes of  person‐trips crossing the Ottawa River have dropped since 2005, although they are still  higher than the 1995 volumes. This is true for both the AM and PM peak periods. "

[UrbOttawa]

As sad as I would be to see the Alexandra go, there is definitely some potential for an iconic bridge here. This is the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam stitched in:


Edit by me but with photos from here and here

[Dengler Avenue]

That will sure be a beauty.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by UrbOttawa

As sad as I would be to see the Alexandra go, there is definitely some potential for an iconic bridge here. This is the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam stitched in:

Looks like a much larger version of the Airport Parkway pedestrian bridge (nothing wrong with that, its a good look)

[Aylmer]

Originally Posted by UrbOttawa

As sad as I would be to see the Alexandra go, there is definitely some potential for an iconic bridge here. This is the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam stitched in:

Great photoshop! That would actually look impressive.

( I'll also point out that the Erasmus Bridge is decked out with dedicated LRT tracks )

[Kitchissippi]

A cable-stayed bridge is a bit overkill for that location and would overpower the unique landscape features of the escarpment and Nepean Point. A contemporary take on the truss bridge would be more fitting, remaining lower than Champlain's statue.

The better spot for a cable-stayed bridge would be a replacement for the PoW bridge, with a mast anchored on Lemeiux Island.

[JHikka]

Surely the NCC or someone would have some bizarre bylaws restricting interesting design of a new bridge for the sake of viewcones or historic preservation, wouldn't they?

[JohnnyRenton]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Before we rush to build MacKinnon's 2+ bridges in anticipation of the coming bridgepocalypse end of days, I think that this would be a good time to drop your annual reminder that interprovincial traffic numbers are actually dropping, as per the latest OD Report in 2011.

"Generally, the distributions of trips – that is, the proportions of trips crossing the Ottawa  River and the proportions that remain within each region – have been stable, with little  variation over the years. However, it is important to note that the absolute volumes of  person‐trips crossing the Ottawa River have dropped since 2005, although they are still  higher than the 1995 volumes. This is true for both the AM and PM peak periods. "

If a new Alexandria Bridge is built, that has 2 lanes for traffic (as it currently does), 2 lanes for LRT, and perhaps the potential for 2 lanes of heavy rail on a bottom deck for future use, this would go a long, long way to providing additional interprovincial commuting capacity. Proper interprovincial transit links could mitigate the need for a Kettle Island bridge for several decades.

@UrbOttawa Great photoshop job. Something like Erasmus would be the right approach for a new bridge, IMHO.

[lrt's friend]

We need an east end bridge regardless. It is ridiculous to funnel traffic not bound for downtown through downtown.

If we are serious about making downtown pedestrian, cycling and transit friendly, we need to get rid of unnecessary traffic.

[OTSkyline]

Beautiful render/photoshop! I agree it would be nice to build something visually interesting at this location, but I'm sure it wouldn't be approved as it would "compete visually with Parliament" or something...

I guess we can't have anything nice in Ottawa because all eyes should be on Parliament - Always (although it'll be hidden and under construction for life)

[Ottawaresident]

How about a West End Bridge near Bayshore too?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Ottawaresident

How about a West End Bridge near Bayshore too?

The most realistic location is Deschenes - Lincoln Fields where the river is narrowest but that has been discarded long ago.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Surely the NCC or someone would have some bizarre bylaws restricting interesting design of a new bridge for the sake of viewcones or historic preservation, wouldn't they?

Oh, you know they do!

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

We need an east end bridge regardless. It is ridiculous to funnel traffic not bound for downtown through downtown.

If we are serious about making downtown pedestrian, cycling and transit friendly, we need to get rid of unnecessary traffic.

Completely agree. It's very annoying having to go through downtown from Orleans to get to the east end of old Gatineau. It also results in unnecessary congestion and pollution.

For those who advocate congestion charges, this is another reason why it's not realistic; everyone crossing the river is forced through downtown.

Another solution for the additional congestion aspect of the bridge closure and Chaudière width reduction would be to fix the PoW and cross Trillium to Terraces de la Chaudière/Zibi sooner rather than later. That of course would do nothing to the tourism and cycling/pedestrian impacts.

[daud]

I love the alexandria bridge exactly as it is as the photos in this old post show:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6592794&postcount=110

I would personally like to see any refurbishment to retain as much of the style and character of the current bridge.

[Aylmer]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Completely agree. It's very annoying having to go through downtown from Orleans to get to the east end of old Gatineau. It also results in unnecessary congestion and pollution.

This is true, but only if you assume that traffic patterns are static and unchanging. What actually happens is that after only a few weeks of the opening of a new link, people change their patterns, filling the new space. And over the medium term, people make different choices about where they live, work, shop, etc. than they would have otherwise.

So perhaps it's wasteful that you need to drive through downtown to get from Orleans to Cheval-Blanc. But it would be even more wasteful to create a more convenient route only to have the number of people doing it jump 100-fold. Even more so when you consider that the $2B spent on a highway would likely preclude further investments in transit infrastructure.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

A cable-stayed bridge is a bit overkill for that location and would overpower the unique landscape features of the escarpment and Nepean Point. A contemporary take on the truss bridge would be more fitting, remaining lower than Champlain's statue.

The better spot for a cable-stayed bridge would be a replacement for the PoW bridge, with a mast anchored on Lemeiux Island.

I agree on both accounts. I think we are better off keeping the Alexandra bridge to a truss design as it is only 563m long (as opposed to 802m for the Erasmus bridge). Replacing the PoW bridge with a cable-stayed bridge would be nice though.

Originally Posted by JohnnyRenton

If a new Alexandria Bridge is built, that has 2 lanes for traffic (as it currently does), 2 lanes for LRT, and perhaps the potential for 2 lanes of heavy rail on a bottom deck for future use, this would go a long, long way to providing additional interprovincial commuting capacity. Proper interprovincial transit links could mitigate the need for a Kettle Island bridge for several decades.

Heavy rail? As in freight or intercity rail or do you mean some type of subway? I can't imagine the former ever using the Alexandra bridge again and a subway could potentially share tracks with the LRT.

You also forgot to mention pedestrian and cycling facilities on the bridge.

My guess is they will have 2 decks. Since they probably can't make the bridge any lower than it currently is and trains (and to a lesser extent cyclists) don't like steep changes in elevation, I would expect the lower deck for the MUP and rail and an upper deck for cars. With this arrangement, they would probably have room for 4 vehicle lanes on the top deck, and MUPs on either side of the tracks (or maybe just a sidewalk on one side and a MUP on the other) on the bottom deck.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

This is true, but only if you assume that traffic patterns are static and unchanging. What actually happens is that after only a few weeks of the opening of a new link, people change their patterns, filling the new space. And over the medium term, people make different choices about where they live, work, shop, etc. than they would have otherwise.

.

Isn’t that true of any transportation infrastructure?