[Locked] Burrard Street Bridge Cycling Improvements | Lane Trial Now Open

[mr.x]

AWESOME!


But please, get Bing Thom or some other non-cookie cutter architect to design it....or even create an international design competition. Being at such a prominent location, it needs something that says "wow" - and preferably not another suspension bridge:

[crazyjoeda]

They said on the news that bridge type would be the first of its kind in North America.

[Spork]

Who cares what the engineering features are? I want it to look *good*.

[mr.x]

Hopefully there will be some cool lighting features as well.




Some inspiration:

[NewfBC]

From News 1130.

Ron.

[mr.x]

Another rendering:






Mayor considers pedestrian-cyclist crossing parallel to Burrard Bridge


By David Karp, Vancouver Sun
July 2, 2009 8:01 PM

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said Thursday he is mulling over plans to build a $45-million pedestrian-and-cyclist bridge across the entrance to False Creek.

The suspension bridge would connect Vanier Park with Sunset Beach and run parallel to the Burrard Bridge.

Robertson said in an interview he spoke several months ago with architect Gregory Henriquez, who designed the new Woodward’s development on Cordova Street, about a possible car-less bridge next to the Burrard Bridge.

“I said, ‘Let me look into it. I’ll take a run at it just for fun,’” Henriquez said Thursday.

Along with engineer C.C. Yao, Henriquez came up with plans for a 15-metre wide suspension bridge.

Henriquez’s design would have a zig-zag bridge deck supported by suspension cables coming from the side, rather than directly above the bridge deck. The bridge would be tall enough for boats to sail underneath, and would be slightly steeper than the Burrard Bridge.

“The [curved] design allows for a longer bridge and ramp access, and a more graceful one,” Henriquez said. “It’s meant to be a poetic interpretation of a traditional suspension bridge. It’s modern and simple like the sail of a boat, and is meant to contrast the existing heritage Burrard Bridge, which is neoclassical.”

Henriquez noted the bridge would provide an excellent viewpoint for the annual Celebration of Light fireworks festival in English Bay.

“It would be the best spot to watch the fireworks. You’d be looking out with no cables, so it would feel like you’re suspended in air,” he said.

If funding could be secured, Henriquez said the bridge could be designed, tested and built in under two years. Robertson said it’s possible such a bridge could open within five years.

“If there is a ton of support, and the capital plan passed with a bridge included, it’s possible,” he said. “People have talked about it for years, but no one has had a real proposal on the table. This should accelerate the dialogue.”

The city would not be committed to Henriquez’s design, and would likely open the process to competition from other designers and builders.

The proposal comes as the city is set to open a bike-only lane on the Burrard Bridge as a trial starting July 13. According to City of Vancouver documents, the Burrard Bridge is in need of $30 million in general maintenance. Widening the bridge to allow for an expanded sidewalk would cost an additional $35 million.

This option provides an alternative for the long term, Robertson said.

“This would be a big signature piece for Vancouver, and create tourism revenue and economic opportunity,” he said. “Timing wise, it’s not a near-term reality. But if we can get lots of people interested, then it will happen.”

Robertson said funding for the bridge could come from multiple levels of government, and said it’s possible funding for a bridge could be put to a referendum.

According to 2006 census data, only 15.9 per cent of City of Vancouver residents and eight per cent of Metro Vancouver residents bike or walk to work. That’s up from 14 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively in 1996. Still, Robertson suggested there are reasons for the majority of commuters to support the project.

“This bridge would alleviate the concerns about lanes on other bridges being dedicated for safe cycling and walking,” he said. “The numbers of walkers and cyclists are rising rapidly. We’re seeing a big shift in how people commute.

“It’s intriguing, and it will definitely spark some good discussion about what we should do for the future.”

dkarp@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[Yume-sama]

I'm definitely for it Hopefully it happens.

[deasine]

Cool. The two towers should be a little larger to make a stronger impact. I think this bridge needs that kind of statement as it is the first bridge you will cross under False Creek.

[jlousa]

But but someone told me that a new bridge would cost $100Million.

Strange on the renders they've chosen to show though, they don't to justice to the design he's drawn up. Perhaps Gregory is keeping them under wraps in case it goes to open competition.

[allan_kuan]

They may want to stretch that deck a little... there seems to be too little space for pedestrians. Also... Celebration of Light shows tend to put a lot of people on the Burrard Bridge and I doubt a bridge like that would be able to adequately support them all.

[racc]

Originally Posted by jlousa

But but someone told me that a new bridge would cost $100Million.

Yeah, and they said the Port Mann would be $1.6 billion, now it is $3.1 billion. They said the sidewalk widening and railing repairs for Burrard would be $14 million, now it they are $60 million. The Central Valley Greenway Bridge was estimated to be $3 million, it cost $6 million.

A new bridge over False Creek for pedestrians and cyclists would be wonderful. While it would likely attract thousands of people per day, As indicated in the proposed design, it will likely impossible to site the new bridge so that it would be a convenient alternative to Burrard Bridge for a significant number of the people who walk and cycle over the Burrard Bridge today.

For example, the streets up from Beach and Pacific are much steeper west of Burrard, making them much less attractive cycling routes. A new bridge would take years to plan, fund and construct. With eight significant injuries to cyclists in eight months, we need solutions now, not ten years from now.

Cities around the world such as London, Lyon and Copenhagen are providing safe facilities on existing bridges for cyclists and pedestrians and building new bicycle and pedestrian bridges. For example, after a cyclist was killed on Blackfriars Bridge in London, they reallocated lanes of traffic to improve cycling safety. Now the bridge has a wide bike lane, a bus lane and an automobile lane in each direction as well as really wide sidewalks. A short distance down the river they also built the new Millennium Bridge for pedestrians.

[deasine]

I can't see how this new bridge wouldn't be convenient at all. It's:

1) Parallel to Burrard Bridge, serving the same area
2) Improves connections with the seawall
3) Provides a better connection with Cypress Bike Route

[mr.x]

agreed, it does seem to be far too narrow for both pedestrians and cyclists.

This will no doubt be a massive tourist attraction, mainly in the summer, if built.





edit: the article says that the bridge is 15-metres wide??? (perhaps the renderings are outdated? or is that a typo?). Anyhow, that's 3-metres wider than our 12-metre long buses (that sounds and looks a bit too wide):





London's Millennium Bridge

[racc]

Originally Posted by deasine

I can't see how this new bridge wouldn't be convenient at all. It's:

1) Parallel to Burrard Bridge, serving the same area
2) Improves connections with the seawall
3) Provides a better connection with Cypress Bike Route

Sure, it would connect with the Seawall much better than Burrard but if someone is going from Kits to downtown, using the proposed bridge would take much longer as the bridge is curved and the approaches are from the east and west, not the north and south. It looks like it could require walking or cycling up to twice the distance as Burrard depending on where you are coming from and going to. For example, it would be much less convenient and slower accessing the proposed bridge from the Burrard Bike Lanes.

As I mentioned in my last post, the hill up from Beach on either Hornby, Thurlow or Bute is very steep.

Also, the article states that the bridge "would be slightly steeper than the Burrard Bridge". Burrard is already rather steep for many people. Ideally, a new bridge would be built with a lower grade meaning the approaches would be longer and more costly. Approaches from the west on both sides of the creek would be good as well.

Again, it would be a great project but not a solution for the safety and capacity problems on the bridge deck.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by racc

Sure, it would connect with the Seawall much better than Burrard but if someone is going from Kits to downtown, using the proposed bridge would take much longer as the bridge is curved and the approaches are from the east and west, not the north and south. It looks like it could require walking or cycling up to twice the distance as Burrard depending on where you are coming from and going to. For example, it would be much less convenient and slower accessing the proposed bridge from the Burrard Bike Lanes.

As I mentioned in my last post, the hill up from Beach on either Hornby, Thurlow or Bute is very steep.

From the Kitsilano side, a majority of the cyclists head to and from Cypress. The other group of cyclists are from East 1st Avenue, where many of the cyclists there are from the Sea Wall or from Cypress. It doesn't take "that much longer."

From downtown, it's a slightly different story: like you said, the hills. However, just the fact that it connects to the Sea Wall already gives you many different options to commute to wherever one needs to in downtown.

Atmosphere is a huge part of what attracts people to use something. I'm sure many users would take this over what they have right now.

Originally Posted by racc

Also, the article states that the bridge "would be slightly steeper than the Burrard Bridge". Burrard is already rather steep for many people. Ideally, a new bridge would be built with a lower grade meaning the approaches would be longer and more costly. Approaches from the west on both sides of the creek would be good as well.

I don't see how you can make a bridge less steep than Burrard technically. The bridge itself is really flat already.

Originally Posted by racc

Again, it would be a great project but not a solution for the safety and capacity problems on the bridge deck.

It would be a solution since many of the people would use this instead of Burrard.

[David]

weird that it goes right over sunset beach... sorta kills the ambiance there imo

[racc]

Originally Posted by deasine

I don't see how you can make a bridge less steep than Burrard technically.

Granted, but making it steeper will make it less attractive to cyclists.

Originally Posted by deasine

The bridge itself is really flat already.

Compared to Cypress Mountain.

Originally Posted by deasine

It would be a solution since many of the people would use this instead of Burrard.

Not during the week. Many people commute over the bridge and are not going to walk or cycle several hundred metres further just to go over a new bridge especially if it is steeper.

Again, world class cities build new bridges for cyclists and peds AND reallocate lanes on existing bridges.

[BCPhil]

I always thought the major problem with walking across the Burrard street bridge was that it just wasn't long enough.

I'm sorry, but does it really make sense to build a new bridge that is taller, spans a wider waterway, and has a giant curve in it? And I think having it in front of the Burrard bridge would just ruin the charm of seeing the Burrard bridge on entering Vancouver by water. The bridge is more than just a bridge, it is the gateway for entering false creek, and having something in front of it defeats that purpose.

I think a more interesting idea to at least look at is to see if it's possible to put the lower deck on the Burrard Street Bridge. It wouldn't really be ruining the bridge as the original designs called for a lower deck for street cars that was never installed. We would finally be completing the original intent of the bridge's designers.

The height of the bridge is important for water traffic, so the lower span would have to lift, but I think even that was in the original plans. I think the piers have provisions for a vertical lift span bellow the main deck. Just raise the lower deck out of the way when a boat needs to go by (for a fee to all those rich yachters, it could probably pay for the deck after a few years). It's low enough so people walking and biking to/from the seawall don't need to go up any steep ramps, and the span would be very, very short (good for those with disabilities and the elderly).

All foot traffic and seawall bikers could be redirected over the lower span and the sidewalks on the upper deck could be used by bike commuters. Then no lanes on the bridge would need to be closed as bikes wouldn't have to share the sidewalk with pedestrians.

The look of the lower span could be done in such a way to really blend in with the bridge, and would be far less upsetting than having a new bridge obstruct the view, or damaging the bridge's heritage super structure by widening the top bridge deck.

[city-dweller]

Pedestrian and bike bridge proposed for False Creek
Last Updated: Friday, July 3, 2009 | 7:25 AM PT Comments1Recommend1
CBC News
Architect Gregory Henriquez's proposal for a pedestrian bridge across False Creek that would connect Kitsilano with the West End. Architect Gregory Henriquez's proposal for a pedestrian bridge across False Creek that would connect Kitsilano with the West End. (Henriquez Partners)

Mayor Gregor Robertson is supporting a proposal to build a bike and pedestrian bridge across False Creek at a cost of $45 million.

The proposed 15-metre-wide suspension bridge would cross the entrance to False Creek just west of Burrard Street, linking Kitsilano at Vanier Park with the West End at Sunset Beach.

Architect Gregory Henriquez presented the plan to the mayor after the two talked about the idea a few months ago.

The proposed span was "very elegant and modern," according to Robertson, who compared it to the popular pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge that crosses the Thames River in London.

"It's an infrastructure project and these kinds of bridges have actually been quite positive economic generators in London and Paris and we would be among the leading cities in North America to do something like this," said Robertson on Thursday night after the proposal was publicly released.

Taxpayers could vote on the idea during a referendum in the next civic election, said Robertson, who is also hoping the federal and provincial governments will help with funding.

"It could be a business venture all of its own in terms of the money side of it. In terms of the long-term solutions we do have to have a long-term safe and good crossing of False Creek," said Robertson.

The proposal comes just days before the city closes one lane on the Burrard Bridge to car traffic to create a bike lane as part of trial project.
The proposed bridge has been compared with the popular Millennium Bridge in London. The proposed bridge has been compared with the popular Millennium Bridge in London. (Henriquez Partners)

[city-dweller]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...lse-creek.html