$22 million Victoria Bridge replacement span panned by cycling advocates
Avid cyclist Paula Coutinho takes a full traffic lane when crossing the Victoria Bridge on Ridout connecting Old South to the downtown.
She says because the bridge’s lack of bike lanes makes it a pinch point that can intimidate less experienced cyclists.
“They’re afraid to cycle on the road with the traffic,” Coutinho explains. “So if we can do more things to make it safe we’ll get more people out riding.”
City hall will be replacing the 96-year-old bridge this year, but details of the $22 million project is sparking pushback from some cycling advocates.
“I actually feel less safe with these designs,” says Andrew Hunniford, general manager of the London Bicycle Cafe.
The new span will be divided into a sidewalk, a one-direction painted bike lane, a multi-use pathway that pedestrians and cyclists must share and two 3.5 metre wide driving lanes.
Hunniford believes the wide traffic lanes will encourage even higher vehicle speeds, “In that future state, those lanes are wider, that traffic is faster, and I don’t have protection (cycling in the bike lane).”
The city’s engineering department says the design is now finalized.
Garfield Dales, managing director of transportation planning and design, explains that the lane configuration was developed during the 2017 environmental assessment which included opportunities for public input.
“It was trying to find the best way to accommodate all those users and also balance some practical limitations like the amount of right-of-way that’s available,” Dales tells CTV News.
Pending city council approval, construction of the new bridge will begin this spring, and be completed in mid-2023.
Replacement of the Victoria Bridge is scheduled to avoid conflicting road closures with replacement of the CN Rail overpass at Wharncliffe Road.
An online public meeting about the bridge replacement will be held by city hall on Jan. 27.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.