Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[Kitchissippi]

What would be really fantastic would be the world's largest 3D printed bridge

World's first 3D-printed steel bridge unveiled at Dutch Design Week

• Video Link

[daud]

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. "

@Aylmer... where does the data in this news article come from?

There is a growing need to provide more transportation access across the Ottawa River in the National Capital Region.

The five interprovincial crossings together carry 150,000 vehicles, plus 9,000 pedestrians and cyclists, each day. According to the federal government, that number has increased by 15,000 since 2015. Of all the morning peak-period traffic in the region, about 11 per cent of it is interprovincial.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...d-as-budget-renews-controversial-project

I'm not disputing your suggestion-I really have no idea to what degree interprovincial traffic is increasing or stagnating etc.. just noting that the news article suggests an increase of 10% in interprovincial traffic since 2015.

[Aylmer]

I don't actually know where that data comes from. I only have access to published and accessible data, and the most recent I can find is the 2011 ODS.

[OtrainUser]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

I don't actually know where that data comes from. I only have access to published and accessible data, and the most recent I can find is the 2011 ODS.

Well then your data is outdated. The most recent data should be used. Since I live near 3 of those bridges i can definitely say interprovincial traffic is going up not stagnant or going down like you say. This is based on my own observations from 2008 to 2019

[Marshsparrow]

I'll be the dick that throws this out there - Gatineau population growth = more houses and majority of them work in Ottawa be it feds or high tech or construction - severe traffic congestion coming into Ottawa in the AM (not into Gatineau) and severe traffic congestion coming into Gatineau in the PM (not into Ottawa) - majority of bridge flow is one way directional and a new bridge mainly benefits Quebec - if there is no LRT bridge crossing planned - I am anti any new bridge investment.

[Ottawaresident]

LRT should help a huge bit. I didn't even know about the STO cross river buses until recently.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by Ottawaresident

LRT should help a huge bit. I didn't even know about the STO cross river buses until recently.

They've been chugging down Wellington in front of Parliament as long as I can remember. Are they going to be moving to Albert/Slater once the LRT opens?

[Ottawaresident]

Isn't LRT on Queens?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I am not opposed to compact lively cities, but the current policy of underproviding bridges does not seem to have led to such an outcome.

Indeed. And there are many compact, dense, liveable cities with ALL TEH BRIDGES.

Ottawa's issue is local and self-inflicted.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Mikeed

I know some people don't like the Alexandra Bridge, but it is a magnificent bridge and a really important part of our built heritage.

I will mourn its demise probably till the day I die.

I don't understand why the Alexandra Bridge can't be refurbished.

Agreed. I think those old steel railway bridges are more beautiful than any of the garbage vanity bridges that are pawned off as being aesthetically pleasing these days. The newish one in Barrhaven over the Rideau River is, to my eyes, ugly. But there's no accounting for taste.

[corynv]

Originally Posted by Ottawaresident

Isn't LRT on Queens?

Yes, but that has nothing to do with it. STO is going to be moving to Albert/Slater once the transitway buses are gone, so that they're travailing closer to where STO passengers work. They'll connect to the LRT at Lyon. (also not all buses will be doing that, some will just loop around Lyon station and go back)

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by corynv

Yes, but that has nothing to do with it. STO is going to be moving to Albert/Slater once the transitway buses are gone, so that they're travailing closer to where STO passengers work. They'll connect to the LRT at Lyon. (also not all buses will be doing that, some will just loop around Lyon station and go back)

Glad to hear it. A much better plan compared to the current situation.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Ottawaresident

I didn't even know about the STO cross river buses until recently.

I guess you've never been in downtown Ottawa?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

I'll be the dick that throws this out there - Gatineau population growth = more houses and majority of them work in Ottawa be it feds or high tech or construction - severe traffic congestion coming into Ottawa in the AM (not into Gatineau) and severe traffic congestion coming into Gatineau in the PM (not into Ottawa) - majority of bridge flow is one way directional and a new bridge mainly benefits Quebec - if there is no LRT bridge crossing planned - I am anti any new bridge investment.

There is some validity to this, but the majority of Gatineau residents do not work in Ottawa. It is a huge chunk though.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OtrainUser

Well then your data is outdated. The most recent data should be used. Since I live near 3 of those bridges i can definitely say interprovincial traffic is going up not stagnant or going down like you say. This is based on my own observations from 2008 to 2019

Regardless, I think we all can admit that in terms of heavy truck traffic, even if it dropped by half in the Waller-Rideau-King Edward area, it would still be too much and unacceptable for a city of Ottawa's size and status as capital of the country.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by 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.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by corynv

Yes, but that has nothing to do with it. STO is going to be moving to Albert/Slater once the transitway buses are gone, so that they're travailing closer to where STO passengers work. They'll connect to the LRT at Lyon. (also not all buses will be doing that, some will just loop around Lyon station and go back)

This is exactly what I was predicting years ago. Once OC buses were off Albert and Slater, STO was going to be moved there.

[Mikeed]

When you look at the Alexandra Bridge you remind yourself that is what the 4th longest cantilever span in the world at the time, and longest in Canada;it was a real feat of engineering, and an other example of Canada being at the forefront of technology and engineering at the time. 1898-1901 was the construction period. To put that in context these were the last years of the Victorian era with the Queen passing in 1901.

As long as the heritage is respected I trust the bridge people when they say it has to come down.

The Forth Bridge opened in 1890 and is still going strong.

[roger1818]

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. "

You can't compare two data points to determine a trend. There could be other factors at play that caused a temporary spike or dip (or both). It is the type of thing that is interesting to note (which the study did), but you can't draw any conclusions from it. Using the three data points they provided (still not enough to truly detect a trend), the trend is still up (see Excel plot below).

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

I'll be the dick that throws this out there - Gatineau population growth = more houses and majority of them work in Ottawa be it feds or high tech or construction - severe traffic congestion coming into Ottawa in the AM (not into Gatineau) and severe traffic congestion coming into Gatineau in the PM (not into Ottawa) - majority of bridge flow is one way directional and a new bridge mainly benefits Quebec - if there is no LRT bridge crossing planned - I am anti any new bridge investment.

Using the data from the OD Report above, it indicates that between 3 and 3.5 times as many people commute from the Outaouais to Ottawa as from Ottawa to the Outaouais.

Originally Posted by Acajack

There is some validity to this, but the majority of Gatineau residents do not work in Ottawa. It is a huge chunk though.

Also true, but (using the same data) where about 2.5 to 3 times as many who live in the Outaouais work in the Outaouais vs Ottawa, about 25 times as many people who live Ottawa work in Ottawa vs. the Outaouais.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by corynv

Yes, but that has nothing to do with it. STO is going to be moving to Albert/Slater once the transitway buses are gone, so that they're travailing closer to where STO passengers work. They'll connect to the LRT at Lyon. (also not all buses will be doing that, some will just loop around Lyon station and go back)

This has been posted on this forum many times over the years, but here is the map of the routing:



More details can be found on STO's website.
http://www.sto.ca/index.php?id=696&L=en