Cyclists can expect to get a new bridge over the McIntyre floodway connecting Vickers and Carrick Streets after Council approved it in principal Monday night.
Councillors voted to add it to the 2020 budget, and cancel proposed multi-use trail additions for the Oliver Road and Ford Street area.
City staff got word from CN Rail last week that the company will not allow the city to make upgrades to the existing bridge over the McIntyre Floodway between Carrick and Vickers to make it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.
Council heard Monday night that creating a new bridge, which local cycling advocates are requesting, will cost between $1.2- and $1.4-million. Engineering Director Kayla Dixon told Council that is over the current budget for such projects, and might require them to cancel other projects or otherwise find more funding.
Councillor Aldo Ruberto argues the city should make the bridge a priority to make cyclists safer, after a deputation from cycling advocates said that there have been high numbers of collisions involving cyclists.
“When you have 90 accidents [on Memorial Avenue] in five years, you have to be concerned,” Ruberto argues.
City staff recommend doing a detailed design of the bridge to get a better idea of the cost.
Cycling advocate Ken Shields told Council the proposed bridge is a key part of the city’s planned north-south express cycling route.
Michael Sobota also spoke to Councillors, saying while the “Fort-to-Port” route included in the Transportation Master Plan will take many years to complete, the Vickers-Carrick bridge could be in place by the end of 2020.
