Alexandra Bridge replacement | Proposed

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That's ambitious.

I wouldn't expect two minutes on opening day. Might be 5 or 10 initially, but if the tram is ultimately to Plateau, Aylmer and a conversion of the Rapibus, then we might need 2 minute frequency for a 9k capacity along the loop.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Agreed. A tram could easily use single track in the centre section, which is likely the strongest, leaving the cantilevered sections for active transportation.

And that's exactly what it was designed for... a train in the middle, and active horses on either side.



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...tion-1.7090387

[Uhuniau]

Bring back horse lanes!

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

And that's exactly what it was designed for... a train in the middle, and active horses on either side.



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...tion-1.7090387

Almost, but not quite it was CPR trains in the centre and trams on the outside, but carriages and pedestrians were also allowed to use the outside. In that photo if you look carefully, you can actually see the tram tracks on the cantilevered section.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Almost, but not quite it was CPR trains in the centre and trams on the outside, but carriages and pedestrians were also allowed to use the outside. In that photo if you look carefully, you can actually see the tram tracks on the cantilevered section.

I didn't say there wasn't a provision for trams and cyclists and pedestrians on the original bridge, I was merely providing evidence that your assertion that it could support a tram in the middle and active transportation on the sides is correct, as it did that and more (a train in the middle).

I'm sure that this has been posted before, but there's some great Interprovincial Bridge info here, including how it was tested, and the first accident on the bridge:
https://www.historicalsocietyottawa....exandra-bridge

[lrt's friend]

Heavy rail (CPR passenger trains) used the centre section of the bridge. Hull electric streetcars ran on the outside with regular traffic. Mind you, the streetcars of that era were pretty short, so nothing like modern articulated LRT.

[J.OT13]

I was considering only posting this on Skyrise, but the level of engagement over there isn't nearly as high.

Here's a very interesting concept design for the new Alexandra Bridge. Unfortunately, this is not an official proposal, and I’m sure Government would never come up with anything nearly as innovative.




https://linktr.ee/atelierdesjardins

[rocketphish]

It's a brilliant idea to extend an urban park right across the river. What would sink this plan, though, is that there isn't any automobile crossing included. If Ottawa had a surplus of vehicle crossings in the core, this would be fine, but alas we don't.

They have a survey available for those who want to comment.

Here are some larger images from the proposal:

[SL123]

Its definitely innovative but I'm not sure why you would have a MUP on both level of the bridges and no car at all tho. if you're going to remove cars from that crossing then you dont need a double deck bridge IMO

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

It's a brilliant idea to extend an urban park right across the river. What would sink this plan, though, is that there isn't any automobile crossing included. If Ottawa had a surplus of vehicle crossings in the core, this would be fine, but alas we don't.

Thanks for posting those images!

If the East end bridge was built, I think we could easily justify removing up to four car lanes from the core. That said, I still think removing cars from Alexandra is doable. It's closed much of the time, but that hasn’t resulted in traffic perceivably worse than usual.

Originally Posted by SL123

Its definitely innovative but I'm not sure why you would have a MUP on both level of the bridges and no car at all tho. if you're going to remove cars from that crossing then you dont need a double deck bridge IMO

I think the lower level is to connect to the ByWard Market and "ground" level pathways, while the upper level is to connect to the Point and Major's Hill Park. It also increase the capacity of an already congested active corridor.

[OTSkyline]

It's wishful thinking, but knowing that LRT or a streetcar isn't happening, not sure why this design couldn't be repurposed slightly to do general traffic lanes on lower level and active transportation on the second level. Would improve interprovincial link, help beautify and I love the link to the new Kiweki point (the current walk on the bridge next to the car lanes is not very pleasant).

[J.OT13]

What the heck happened to PdV C?

[Matt1]

Beautiful concept. But I'm sure someone would try to light the thing on fire. Covered bridges are prone to pyromaniacs. I suppose it would be the same for this bridge

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Thanks for posting those images!

If the East end bridge was built, I think we could easily justify removing up to four car lanes from the core. That said, I still think removing cars from Alexandra is doable. It's closed much of the time, but that hasn’t resulted in traffic perceivably worse than usual.



I think the lower level is to connect to the ByWard Market and "ground" level pathways, while the upper level is to connect to the Point and Major's Hill Park. It also increase the capacity of an already congested active corridor.

I have not really heard many complaints that the bridge is now closed to traffic. So why not go with this conceptÉ

[kwoldtimer]

Nice enough concept, I suppose, but I'm hoping for something rather more grand.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Matt1

Beautiful concept. But I'm sure someone would try to light the thing on fire. Covered bridges are prone to pyromaniacs. I suppose it would be the same for this bridge

Also a maintenance nightmare I would imagine. I'd like to see many of these ideas implemented, but not necessarily as presented.

[hwy418]

Nice idea, but this is nothing more than planner porn. That wood canopy would not age well - go see what the wood at TD Stadium looks like for a sneak peak.

[OTownandDown]

Easy: Designed for future light rail, but built for cars today. Future inter-lining with both occuring in the same lanes. Traffic be damned.

[DTcrawler]

I think it's a very beautiful and innovative design. I'm not dismissing a lot of the concerns raised here, but I think it's the mentality of getting bogged down in relatively minor details that compels our planners to continually opt for plain, utilitarian designs.

I will say that with a double-deck span, there should be a way to incorporate two lanes of general traffic to keep drivers from whining. But I like the idea of having cycling tracks on both levels to serve crossings from water-level NCC MUPs as well as street-level municipal cycling infra.

[roger1818]

I have said this before, but put me on the list of those who think that cars should NOT be on the Alexandra Bridge. There are few origin/destination pairs that couldn't be accomodated by one of the other central bridges without a minor detour in a car.

I do like the idea of having two levels for active transportation, but I would glass in the lower level to provide protection during inclemant weather, making it more useable all year round (it doesn't need to be heated, just protection from the wind, rain and snow).