Engineers to consider widening of High Level Bridge

The City of Edmonton just hired structural engineers to evaluate if it’s possible to widen the more than 100-year-old High Level Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians.

Pedestrians are feeling threatened by cyclists, especially as they cross on the narrow east side, and city officials say they are looking at all options as they prepare the bridge for regularly scheduled rehabilitation.

“It’s a technical feasibility investigation,” said Jason Meliefste, branch manager for infrastructure planning, after giving an update to council’s urban planning committee Friday.

They’ll pitch the rehabilitation for Edmonton’s 2019-2022 capital budget cycle, and that gives the opportunity to improve the bridge, too. “It’s a once-ina-lifetime opportunity with that bridge.”

At committee, Coun. Ben Henderson said he still hears from many pedestrians now feeling uncomfortable using the High Level Bridge since the city installed suicide barriers in 2016.

He wondered if the city should shut cycling access to the east side of the bridge.

City officials said they’re looking at that, if they can find a way to improve connectivity at each end. Currently, shutting access to one side would mean long wait times for cyclists forced to cross at the north and south intersections.

They are also planning a cycling education campaign this fall to stress respectful and safe behaviour.

Meliefste said the structural engineering study will also look at the feasibility of putting an LRT connection across the bridge for a planned loop called the downtown circulator. That would run through the Old Strathcona area, possibly along Whyte Avenue, and connect back downtown.

Other community groups have proposed designs for an urban park on the top of the bridge. A street car currently runs there from the spring through fall.

This study will inform planners “to know whether or not it’s a fatal flaw. Can we do this or can we not?” said Meliefste.

“Because there’s no point in having a broader conversation if you’ve already explored that (from an engineering perspective) you can’t even do it.”

Meliefste expects to get the technical study back by this fall. Then his team will hold broader public consultations, before presenting different options to council.

It’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity with that bridge.