archited
Senior Member
This Concept envisions renovating the existing High Level Bridge and repurposing it as a high-end boutique retail and eatery construct whereby the existing traffic deck and sidewalks are replaced with Commercial Retail Units (CRUs) and Commercial Hospitality Units (CHUs), modified to enable "sky-decks" to cantilever off the west-facing facade. The upper deck would be retained for the Edmonton Radial Railway Streetcars -- perhaps with a mid-span station that accesses a public Over-the-River Park imbued with Multiple Use Paths (MUPs), Ornamental Landscape beds and specimens, River Valley Outlooks, and Confectionery and Casual Eatery Kiosks.
Replacing the existing function of the High Level Bridge vis-a-vis motor-traffic a new "Living Bridge" would span from the Legislature Grounds HLB approach in a direct line to the cross-river existing Garneau District 109th Street alignment. The Living Bridge piers would be built out to include mid-rise and high-rise condominiums and apartments. The auto portion of the bridge would be served by two lanes in each direction with a centre-lane accessing automated parking below the auto deck. The newly created street would be lined with Retail, Hospitality and (on second levels) Service businesses.
The ERR (Edmonton Radial Railway) would be modified as a year-round conveyance that has road-bed ensconced LSMs (Linear Synchronous Motors) -- thereby eliminating overhead conduction wires and serving up a much more efficient means of propulsion with inherent built-in safety standards. The interior of streetcars would be luxuriously appointed and would be "free to ride". The conveyance system provided by the upgraded system would NOT be a rapid people-mover but rather would be a community-binder connecting Old Strathcona to Jasper Avenue (with future extensions at both ends and myriad points-of-interest stations along the expanded route).
The foregoing is an introduction -- a massing model will serve to more easily describe the intent.
Replacing the existing function of the High Level Bridge vis-a-vis motor-traffic a new "Living Bridge" would span from the Legislature Grounds HLB approach in a direct line to the cross-river existing Garneau District 109th Street alignment. The Living Bridge piers would be built out to include mid-rise and high-rise condominiums and apartments. The auto portion of the bridge would be served by two lanes in each direction with a centre-lane accessing automated parking below the auto deck. The newly created street would be lined with Retail, Hospitality and (on second levels) Service businesses.
The ERR (Edmonton Radial Railway) would be modified as a year-round conveyance that has road-bed ensconced LSMs (Linear Synchronous Motors) -- thereby eliminating overhead conduction wires and serving up a much more efficient means of propulsion with inherent built-in safety standards. The interior of streetcars would be luxuriously appointed and would be "free to ride". The conveyance system provided by the upgraded system would NOT be a rapid people-mover but rather would be a community-binder connecting Old Strathcona to Jasper Avenue (with future extensions at both ends and myriad points-of-interest stations along the expanded route).
The foregoing is an introduction -- a massing model will serve to more easily describe the intent.