Pedestrians, cyclists vie for space on narrow High Level Bridge paths
Travis McEwan | CBC News | Posted: June 17, 2016 12:31 AM | Last Updated: June 17, 2016
'It should have been thought out a little bit better,' says one pedestrian
With about a month to go before a High Level Bridge construction project is complete, some pedestrians and cyclists say crossing the structure on its narrow pathways is triggering safety concerns.
A $3-million project to install suicide barriers on the bridge was approved by city council two years ago, and work began last September.
But installing the stainless-steel mesh and high-tension wires for the barriers has meant temporary closures and narrowing of the pathways on either side of the bridge.
On Monday the west side pathway closes for a month while more posts are added. The east side will be the only pathway open until the third week of July. It's at least a foot narrower with the new barriers added on the inside of the existing railing.
The pathways are used by a mix of quick moving cyclists weaving around groups of pedestrians.
Lori Karen walks the path on her lunch break everyday. She said the high traffic on the path can make it feel unsafe.
"There's been close calls," said Karen. "Touching elbows, simple but avoidable things.
"It should have been thought out a little bit better. It takes up so much space."
Cyclist Cody Gazankas, who bikes the paths everyday, says traffic is extremely busy right now and he doubts that will change when both pathways are open. He said the paths were already tight before the barriers took up an extra foot of space.
"I don't want pedestrians to feel unsafe while I'm cycling on the bridge," said Gaznakas. "If someone is passing you on a bike at 20 kilometres per hour it can be a frightening thing."
It would be primarily cost and time to remove the existing railing. It would be considerably more than $3 million. - City spokesman Allan Bartman
The city did consider a different option for installing the barriers. That involved constructing them on the outside of the pathways and the existing rails, meaning the paths wouldn't have been narrowed.
But city general supervisor for transportation and infrastructure Allan Bartman said the city passed on that design because it would have taken longer to construct and been more costly.
"It would be primarily cost and time," said Bartman. "It would be considerably more than $3-million."
He urged cyclists and pedestrians to be careful while using the bridge pathways.