CHANGE TO THE SKYLINE?
Proposed LRT bridge is a big one
A large cable-stayed bridge across Yellowhead Trail would reshape Edmonton’s northern skyline, based on concept designs released Thursday by city officials.
Long spans will be required to get the LRT across the Yellowhead Trail and CN Rail yards, which means 75-metre-tall towers to support the weight.
The designs for the proposed northwest leg of Edmonton’s LRT were shared with the community at an open house Thursday evening.
City officials also shared their recommendation on how to separate the LRT from the road, which would extend the Metro Line from Blatchford to Campbell Road in the direction of St. Albert.
Officials are trying to get the design procurement ready by the end of 2018, but council has not decided where it ranks in the list of priorities.
The west extension of the LRT’s Valley Line to Lewis Farms is coming first.
A cable-stayed bridge is a design that supports the deck with cables running directly to a tower. For context, the towers in this design would be the same height as a 20-storey to 25-storey building, said Nat Alampi, the city ’s director of LRT infrastructure delivery.
The entire bridge is 650 metres long, and the span between the two towers where it crosses the rail yard would be 400 metres.
“You could fit the Walterdale Bridge between the two towers,” he said. That could be a big change for the neighbourhood.
“It’s subjective,” Alampi said. “Some people love it and some people don’t.”
The bridge would cost an estimated $200 million, while the entire extension to Campbell Road is estimated in the price range of $1.8 billion to $2.2 billion.
ONE MORE OPEN HOUSE
Council will vote on the concept plan after a public hearing Nov. 6.
For residents who missed Thursday ’s open house, a second is Tuesday at the Castle Downs Family YMCA at 11510 153 Ave.
That event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both open-house events are dropin style, where city officials are available to answer questions as residents review the information on display boards.
Other open houses are being planned for next Tuesday and Thursday on council’s proposed south LRT extension. It also goes to public hearing Nov. 6.
TRENCHING IN TWO AREAS
In the northwest, city officials are recommending two locations for grade separation.
They are proposing to trench the line under 137 Avenue as it follows Castle Downs Road, and under 127 Street as it follows 153 Avenue.
They are not recommending grade separation for where the line turns from Castle Downs Road to 153 Avenue, which some people in the community want. Because the route is on a turn, it would require nearly 500 metres of tunnel or raised tracks, increasing the price, Alampi said.
As well, that location is near many neighbourhood amenities and has a station, all of which will tie together better with tracks at grade, he said.