Terwillegar Park Footbridge
The City of Edmonton is hosting an open house on May 31 for the new Terwillegar Park Footbridge. Please attend if you are interested in this project, as it has impacts on existing mountain biking trails as well, and has many adjustments to accommodate the mix of users (including not being fully paved in some areas). Details are available on the City's website.
Valley Line LRT
Here is an update from the City regarding the Cloverdale Pedestrian Bridge replacement:
Hello from the Valley Line LRT Team, and thanks for your continued interest and involvement in the project.
You may have noticed City of Edmonton staff on and around the Cloverdale Footbridge yesterday, setting up MioVision cameras. As part of our commitment to public engagement, and in consideration of concerns we've heard around the construction of a new river bridge, we'll be collecting data and hosting conversations in the river valley over the next few weeks.
The City of Edmonton currently uses MioVision cameras to count vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists all over Edmonton. MioVision cameras will be recording travel data on and around the bridge from May 20-25, to help the City of Edmonton better understand how many pedestrians, cyclists, and people using other modes are using the bridge.
On May 27, 28, and 31, we'll be on the bridge talking to people about which trails they use to access the bridge, how frequently they use the bridge, and whether they use the bridge recreationally and/or as a commuting link.
We'll host an online survey from May 20-31 on the Valley Line project website, and I will be in touch with key stakeholders like you in the coming weeks to have one-on-one conversations about how you use the bridge and to hear about what is important to you in developing a detour strategy.
In late June - early July, we will share the data and feedback we collected, and will present a detour strategy for your information.
Collecting this kind of information and listening to people who use the bridge will help our team develop a safe, sensible, and accessible detour plan for the 34 consecutive months that the existing bridge and surrounding trails will be out of commission.
Construction of the Valley Line will occur from 2016-2020. Detailed construction plans, including what types of activities will occur when and where, will not be known until a successful P3 team is in place and active in late 2015. Note that this means that the bridge and trails could be inaccessible for up to 34 consecutive months at any time between 2016 and 2020. Click here for more information on the Valley Line Public Private Partnership.
The City of Edmonton recognizes the importance of the existing footbridge and adjoining river valley trails. Throughout the public engagement process on the Preliminary Design, we heard that:
· The footbridge is a commuting and recreational asset to people from all over Edmonton, not just the surrounding neighbourhoods. · The footbridge is used year-round. · The footbridge and its aesthetic are valued by Edmontonians, and the footbridge is important in many stakeholders’ memories and experiences. · Minimizing the time that the footbridge and adjoining trails are not useable during demolition and construction is important to stakeholders and the public. · Protecting the river and river valley (including wildlife and vegetation) during demolition and construction is important.
With this feedback in mind, the City is committed to:
Building a new bridge that accommodates non-motorized modes and offers designated viewpoint/lookout areas. Designing the new bridge such that all-season use of the bridge is safe, enjoyable, and efficient; selecting suitable deck materials, lighting, considering CTPED principles, and preservation of viewpoints. Designing the underslung component of the new bridge in a way that honours the historical design; with a wood deck for pedestrian use, and a hardsurfaced shared-use path for cyclists and others to use. This design also includes viewpoints looking east and west from the bridge. Limiting the amount of time the bridge is out of commission to 34 months through contractual requirements with the P3 team Adhering to the mitigative recommendations put forth in the Environmental Impact Screening Assessment, complying with municipal, provincial, and federal environmental policies and laws that apply to demolition and construction in general, as well as those that apply specifically to the North Saskatchewan River.
Thanks again for your continued partnership in the Valley Line project, and do contact me if you have questions about this next exciting step.