[Old Johnson Street Bridge] General discussion

Comment by VicHockeyFan [ 158390 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:50:10 +0000

I walked over the bridge around 8:00 am, and traffic was flowing smoothly with cyclists actually waiting near the S curve until they had a group together before heading east across the bridge. One vehicle lane and one cycling lane each way seems to work. I saw no cyclists using the pedestrian path on the south side of the bridge. No honking and no fingers, but it's only day one with three years to go. Yes, left to their won devices, it's amazing how much human-kind can figure out on their own. But these days, government figures it need police, city officials and bike volunteers to manage the whole thing.

Comment by Bingo [ 158386 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:52:36 +0000

Comment by Holden West [ 158380 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:11:28 +0000

I believe the time it takes for a car to cross the deck of the bridge is around three and a half seconds. I doubt even a slow bike would take much more than ten seconds. It's amazing what will infuriate a driver. "Sorry I'm six seconds late for work, boss. I got stuck behind some idiot cyclist!"

Comment by jklymak [ 158379 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:59:51 +0000

^ Cyclists have to take a lane on the JSB. Which really should be fine, but a) some cyclists are afraid to, and b) some car drivers are so impatient, they can't slow down for 5 seconds it takes to go over the bridge. The alternative is the cyclists hugs the right, and the cars try to push by, and that is really dangerous.

Comment by sebberry [ 158375 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:30:18 +0000

Police will be positioned at the Johnson Street Bridge Monday to direct a crush of commuter car and bike traffic that will share three narrow lanes following the weekend closure of the attached rail bridge, Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin said Saturday. Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/could+manic+Monday+Blue+Bridge/4590283/story.html#ixzz1JC3isr3r Honestly.. how hard can it be? Is the JSB the only road in town that drivers encounter cyclists on?

Comment by Bingo [ 158363 ]

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:29:54 +0000

All we need now is a fly through video to show how the new cycling paths over the bridge will work.

Comment by MarkCB [ 158326 ]

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:30:56 +0000

So the rail span is going to be raised like that until the bridge is taken away? I hope so. It looks really cool.

Comment by gumgum [ 158320 ]

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:56:47 +0000

There's nothing wrong with esthetics of the new bridge. In fact, I think it's beautiful. We should embrace architecture and design of yesterday and today. Should not move forward in that respect? How the new bridge came to fruition is what I don't like...

Comment by Annie [ 158319 ]

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:14:10 +0000

Okay - they really did it. Nice timing for the "Tourist Season" !!! If the part of the bridge serves no purpose other than sticking up in the air - get rid of it. You are going to do this eventually anyway - get rid of this "Eyesore" sticking up in the air !!! The inconvenience to people is also going to be biting you in the butt !!! The city of Victoria has already been partially destroyed by rebuilding so many things. I would have thought that a "New Bridge" would have opened in the middle - somewhat like a gateway to "Victoria". Yes I was told there was a problem getting "Power" to the other side of the bridge - that can be done - not impossible, and would help in so many ways. Vibrant Glossy paint sure makes a difference too !!! Someone sure needs to think about what this is going to look like coming into the Inner Harbour or from any angle that it can be seen. If need be - run a little ferry for bicycles and pedestrians to get across when access is no longer available. Let people get to work, or people can work out of their homes or somewhere else until you get this mess sorted out. Ever since the "Eaton Centre" was torn down and rebuilt - none of this nonsense has stopped. It has been going on for over 20 or 25 years now (at least). Please, can someone "Clue in" to what they are doing to this city, and the people that are affected "?". The "New Bridge" that I have seen in pictures does not fit in with this city if you want to keep any part of the original look and any heritage of Victoria. We need a eye pleasing and functional "Gateway" into Victoria - not another modern "eyesore" that looks out of place. I have a friend that builds bridges on the East Coast - he would walk away from this one. You can have it if that's what you want Victoria to reflect to the people that come to this city, and for the people that live in Victoria and surrounding areas. Also a very sad loss of the E & N Railway ... You're sure blowing it with this one (as usual) !!! :( P.S. Has anyone noticed the combination of bridges that join Washington State to Astoria Oregon ?? Now that's a bridge !!!! Many other designs that would be beautiful and functional for Victoria. Grab a brain people "?" ...

Comment by Mike K. [ 151451 ]

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:49:03 +0000

As we progress from discussing the old Johnson Street Bridge to the new replacement bridge, a dedicated thread merging the general, technical and design discussion has been created at http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=4987 The funding discussion will remain as a thread for the funding of the project throughout construction.