Views sought on LRT bridge.
Six designs, from plain Jane to extradosed pillars and cables
Transportation officials are soliciting opinions on six possible designs for a new LRT bridge between downtown and Cloverdale.
The new bridge would replace the wooden Cloverdale pedestrian bridge to get the new trains across the river for the proposed southeast line. Designs range from a minimal concrete platform similar to the James MacDonald, to systems of arches and suspensions that would take a larger place in the skyline.
The designs were developed by city consultants and shown publicly for the first time at a civic open house last Thursday. “These are the six options we’re presenting to the public that are feasible,” said Nat Alampi, city program manager for LRT design and construction.
The budget for the bridge is $40 million to $70 million, cheaper than the new $132 million Walterdale Bridge because the river is narrower. The team will pick one option to recommend to city council by balancing the capital costs, expected ongoing maintenance costs and public opinion, Alampi said.
None of the designs got high marks from Ester Scanga, who was jogging with two friends through Louise McKinney Park on Sunday. “What? I love the wooden bridge,” she said.
“Can’t we have both?” said her friend Debbie Snell.
The three of them eventually decided a low profile, extradosed bridge (a cross between a girder and cable-stayed bridge) with two suspension towers would be best, since it’s more interesting than the flat bridges but less imposing than the fancier single-pylon, cable-stayed option.
“There’s a time and a place for this modern stuff, but not in the river valley,” Snell said.
Online, readers of the Edmonton Commons urban affairs blog had a different opinion. Out of 900 votes in the Journal’s online poll, 60 per cent went for the fancy singlepylon, cable-stayed option.
The single arch and extradosed options were the runners up, with 10 per cent and 13 per cent of the votes each.
Here are a few comments:
“It seems all these designs have the train on top. Since the LRT trains have blocked ceilings, why not put the track below the pedestrians who would appreciate being able to look upwards and won’t feel additionally confined?” InAllHonesty “We’re already going for a signature bridge with the Walterdale; do we need another bridge that’s a big striking structure? I’d rather we do something that reflects and complements the river valley parks in the area. Minimalism doesn’t have to be ugly, does it?” Stratyos “They all look bland because they’re all grey. A very simple design could look great at that location with a little colour and texture (like the red pedestrian bridge that’s there now) and ‘respect the very valley’ without being ‘Edmontonbland.’ ” Adamburgers “We’ve had enough boring bridges, we’ve never had a cable Golden Gate style bridge. Time for something interesting, let’s dress Etown up, now’s our chance.”
Team Hall