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A new "Living Bridge" conjoined to a repurposed High Level Bridge

Stevey_G said:
There’s no way the high level replacement would cost more than the Port Mann Bridge. 300-400 million for a standard suspension bridge is my guess.
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This would be a rather non-standard bridge, though. Having it prepared for passenger trains, LRT and cars would mean it would need to be either wider or have more decks than the usual (the upside would be having more lanes in each direction and taking traffic off of Gateway Blvd and spreading it with 109 st., as well as enough space for pedestrian and cyclist use). The engineering challenges of having a mixed rail and car use elevate the costs significantly and, also, building it at the top of the bank would also involve a whole lot of interventions in roads and potentially buildings.
 
See... the beauty of this is that you don't think of it as a bridge any more -- it is a mixed use development that spans a river firmly connecting both banks in a way that obviates separation. And yet it leaves the river and the valley alone.
 
If we were to convert the existing HLB into a living bridge I would envision steampunk style architecture with shining glass boxes and hanging gardens throughout. Make it look like something that has been around a long time and where nature found its niche. It has to look nice or the entire project will fail.
 
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Source to the above images and link to article about it: https://mikeshouts.com/where-living-under-the-bridge-is-no-longer-for-the-poor/

I also recommend reading the article.
 
IanO said:
You won't need LRT preparation/consideration for that inner circulator if we get a gondola!
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What? You think a gondola is going to provide mass transit? It's a "feature" and will never replace the inner circular transit route with key stops along its route - whereas the gondola is essentially geared toward special events and tourism. It is simply not comparable and why you are thinking it is comparable is a conundrum.
 
No, Ian is right -- the Gondola will provide the fastest connection between the Ole Strath and the Downtown E. At one end -- the Ole Strath -- it will connect very nicely to the ERR system. At the other end -- Downtown E. -- with a VERY short pedestrian hike, it will connect to LRT. This has been well considered by the Gondopeople and I think they have it figured out. Plus it is the best system to date that brings the carless to the river valley, creating an impetus there for something better than "planters and benches" and another stab at "Blatchford 2.0". Edmonton and its people have GOT to start thinking bigger -- mindless pap by any other name is still mindless pap. The ERR system has GOT to be upgraded to a year-'round system -- it neatly connects to the Gondoproject and the Grandin LRT station (with a few modifications). The pieces are there, we just have to support the putting-them-in-place.
 
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EdmTrekker said:
What? You think a gondola is going to provide mass transit? It's a "feature" and will never replace the inner circular transit route with key stops along its route - whereas the gondola is essentially geared toward special events and tourism. It is simply not comparable and why you are thinking it is comparable is a conundrum.
Click to expand...

It's meant to compliment and help complete the 'inner circulator' loop. Pair that with a year-round street-car with the ERR from the south terminus to Jasper/110st or perhaps across and up to MacEwan's residence/112st LRT and it becomes even clearer that this could be practical while serving as an attraction.

Buses along Whyte and general density will help feed the south terminus.

The 100st bus stop, towers, events and Central LRT connection with feed the north.
 
The world is ending...
@IanO and @archited agree on something, and I disagree with both at the same time... Weird times...

Not having an alternate way for the LRT to cross the river will kill any hopes of having a line go down Whyte Avenue one day, which is a tremendous waste of good density and opportunity. Having a line going down on Whyte and linking Capital/Metro lines and Valley Line, while crossing out most relevant shopping and entertainment district sounds way too appealing to ignore and bet on a possible ERRS/Gondola combo, fed by busses (eeeeew!!!).

We should, at the very least, consider having streetcars (modern streetcars) on Whyte, crossing to DT...
 
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