Victoria Bridge (Ridout St at Thames River)

[tyeman200]

Does anyone know when this officially starts? Almost the end of March and the bridge is still open. This is my main route to downtown so the next year is going to suck big time lol

[inimrepus]

They have started doing prep work already, they will keep the bridge open as long as possible to minimize the traffic impact.

[Djeffery]

Story on CTV News right now that the project is on hold because of Federal government delays regarding working in and around the river. No word on when that approval will happen.

[Djeffery]

CTV News Story..

https://london.ctvnews.ca/lack-of-federa...ctoria-bridge-on-ridout-street-1.5932549

[jammer139]

Yet another example of lack of planning on the part of the City for fundamental infrastructure projects.


Will likely result in extra costs and more inconvenience for taxpayers.

[Djeffery]

And further delays to Wharncliffe, which I always believe should have been done first anyway.

[jammer139]

Latest update on project delays.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ridout-street-bridge-1.6496282

[tyeman200]

Wow, so the city couldn't figure this crap out earlier eh?

Like come on, they already knew they were working around the river, should have gotten the studies done long time ago.

[haljackey]

Agreed- isn't this what environmental assessments are for? To assess the environment?

We're pushing back other major infrastructure projects to get this done in 2022. What a flop.

[Djeffery]

I wonder how they know these things are endangered anyway? Hundreds of miles of river in that system and Ridout St is where these things set up shop? And what would be missed if these things disappeared from there?

[Djeffery]

Looks like progress, as the temporary pedestrian bridge was pulled across the river today and the city hopes to be able to begin demolition of the Ridout bridge in the next month.

[CanadianTalk]

Here is an update from today, posted by the ward councillor:



As Djeffery posted here, I wonder if this may delay the Wharncliffe underpass yet once again, as the estimated completion date of Victoria Bridge is now the fall of 2023, and not the summer, as originally planned.

The main reason why the Wharncliffe underpass did not go ahead this year, was because of this project, as the city wanted to mitigate the risk of the two road closures (of Ridout and Wharncliffe) from occuring at the same time, as much as possible.

[Djeffery]

Still say this was done backwards. Wharncliffe with the single lane NB through Horton is already quite backed up much of the day, when it's rare to get through the intersection in 2 lights. Would have been better to have Wharncliffe done first when it could easily handle the Ridout detour.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Still say this was done backwards. Wharncliffe with the single lane NB through Horton is already quite backed up much of the day, when it's rare to get through the intersection in 2 lights. Would have been better to have Wharncliffe done first when it could easily handle the Ridout detour.

Yes and in hindsight Wharncliffe should have been done this year so there was something to work on while the environmental assessment took place on Ridout.

Both projects may be worked on next year because there are likely already contracts signed, agreements with CN on timings, etc. It's going to be a headache for anyone in the area.

[Spoofy]

.

[CanadianTalk]

Ridout Street will be closed starting on July 25th, same time as when the temporary pedestrian bridge will open (as mentioned in my shared post above)

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Spoofy

You're absolutely right, it's crazy that the old NIMBY at 100 Stanley Street is still holding up much-needed infrastructure improvements within the city.

If you hear of anyone complaining about traffic in this area over the next couple years, let them know to go knock on her door and share their opinions with her because she is the sole reason this overlap will happen.

On the bright side, once these infrastructure improvements are finally done traffic flow will be significantly better, which should help with accommodating all of the current and expected growth along baseline road to the south and springbank to the west. Not to mention how improved traffic flow on one artery helps traffic flow on neighbouring arteries as well (wonderland and wellington in this case).

(Yes, I'm still salty about this nightmare)

You know she sold and moved almost 2 years ago right?

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Yes and in hindsight Wharncliffe should have been done this year so there was something to work on while the environmental assessment took place on Ridout.

Both projects may be worked on next year because there are likely already contracts signed, agreements with CN on timings, etc. It's going to be a headache for anyone in the area.

The Wharncliffe South works are slated to start construction next year, with completion in 2025. Not looking forward to the ensuing traffic nightmare of having both of those projects going on at once, but it's already bad anyway. The suffering will be worth it in the end.

[CanadianTalk]

Time-lapse video showing the installation of the temporary pedestrian/cycling bridge

• Video Link

[jammer139]

Looks like they have finally removed the bridge surface deck leaving only the bridge structural steel. Disassembling the steel super structure will be an interesting engineering project as I would assume they will have to remove it with strategically cut sections to avoid having it collapse into the river. I doubt they will use a huge mobile crane to lift the entire steel structure off the stone supports and cut it up on ground. The structural engineers will earn their money on this demolition project.