High Level Bridge

[CplKlinger]

Have both.

100%. A few years ago the city put in a multi-use path along the HLB streetcar's tracks in Strathcona, between the farmers market and 107 Street; last year it was further extended up to a shared alley connecting with 109 St. It's brought so much life and vibrancy to the area; there are so many families, cyclists, couples, and others using that trail on a daily basis. There is good separation between the tracks and the path, and people often like to wave at the streetcar as it goes by. I'd love to see the north and south paths connected along the top deck, I just want it done in a way that keeps everyone safe, and doesn't take away from what we already have.

 

[husky]

I have a feeling there's a real good chance that any rehabilitation will be geared towards only the necessary repairs to give it X years of additional service life. I can't see any additional aspirational (e.g. high line type of stuff or sidewalk widening) happening at this point.

 

[TAS]

100%. A few years ago the city put in a multi-use path along the HLB streetcar's tracks in Strathcona, between the farmers market and 107 Street; last year it was further extended up to a shared alley connecting with 109 St. It's brought so much life and vibrancy to the area; there are so many families, cyclists, couples, and others using that trail on a daily basis. There is good separation between the tracks and the path, and people often like to wave at the streetcar as it goes by. I'd love to see the north and south paths connected along the top deck, I just want it done in a way that keeps everyone safe, and doesn't take away from what we already have.

I love biking along Rail Trail.

 

[chrisvazquez7]

What are we thinking?

View attachment 679030

Yup, would love to see a new bridge on the green alignment. Have at least two decks on a cable-stay or suspension bridge. Pathways, streetcar, at least 4 lanes of traffic, and future-proofing for heavy rail.

 

[Gronk!]

Yup, would love to see a new bridge on the green alignment. Have at least two decks on a cable-stay or suspension bridge. Pathways, streetcar, at least 4 lanes of traffic, and future-proofing for heavy rail.

Yellow = historically designated HLB bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and streetcar
Green = new bridge for 2-way 4-lane vehicular traffic, commercial 18 wheelers that get stuck under the HLB about once a week, public transit, emergency vehicles and HSR

I like how the south end of the new green bridge joins with 109 St/Saskatchewan Drive - makes for a good roundabout! However, I am concerned about how the new bridge will interact with the Kinsmen sports fields and the tennis court.

 

[chrisvazquez7]

If it’s a cable-stay or suspension bridge it would likely only have two large pylons — one on either side of the river. So there would most likely be some impact to Kinsmen Park, but not a lot.

And I would love to keep the HLB for active transportation and the streetcar, but I’m worried it’s becoming more of a liability than an asset as it becomes more and more expensive to maintain it and keep it safe.

 

[husky]

I like how the south end of the new green bridge joins with 109 St/Saskatchewan Drive - makes for a good roundabout! However, I am concerned about how the new bridge will interact with the Kinsmen sports fields and the tennis court.

Sports fields and a tennis court would be a small budget line item in a project like that. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to replace them if they needed to.

 

[thommyjo]

Yellow = historically designated HLB bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and streetcar
Green = new bridge for 2-way 4-lane vehicular traffic, commercial 18 wheelers that get stuck under the HLB about once a week, public transit, emergency vehicles and HSR

I like how the south end of the new green bridge joins with 109 St/Saskatchewan Drive - makes for a good roundabout! However, I am concerned about how the new bridge will interact with the Kinsmen sports fields and the tennis court.

On the vehicle bridge, what if they did 5 lanes with 1 being dedicated bus lane (switches direction based on peak hour flows), then we also do HSR underneath.

Bus lane can also be used by emergency vehicles. Could help us get that “festival line” type route combined with whyte ave dedicated lanes.

 

[yeggator]

The thing that has been a boon for local businesses like The Common (their beer streetcar events always sell out, and many people like myself and my family have gone there after learning about them through these events), and attractions like the Legislature (which recently asked to partner with ERRS because a lot of passengers go there for tours anyway, and they want to build on that)?

Speaking of which, how long is that running for the season? I got the idea to take a woman on a date aboard the streetcar from Daily Hive, and I’ve gotta do it sometime this fall. What’s my timeline for securing a date off of Tinder?

 

[Gronk!]

Any of you remember the Great Divide Waterfall?

Remember the waterfall on the High Level Bridge? Here’s how Edmonton got it, and lost it

Once upon a time in Edmonton, there was a waterfall on the High Level Bridge. The art installation flowed off the iconic landmark for 25 years. This story remembers the majesty of the Great Divide Waterfall, what led to its demise and how a new project succeeded in its stead.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[IanO]

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

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www.linkedin.com

 

[thommyjo]

Will this council be prepared to broker the future of the HLB?

I don’t think there’s any way around it, we need a new bridge.

Keep the existing for bike/walk/tram.

Build a new one for 4 lanes of traffic. Convert it and Walterdale to both be 2 ways. Add a level for HSR/LRT. Realign 109st to be a straight line.

This will be very expensive. But a critical investment into our transportation for all modes. Could help make downtown feel a lot more accessible for the southside too. Getting provincial/federal support will be key.

 

[archited]

There are much, much better uses for the High Level bridge than simply pedestrian/wheelie uses (although those uses need to also be front and centre)

 

[northlands]

Will this council be prepared to broker the future of the HLB?

I don’t think there’s any way around it, we need a new bridge.

Keep the existing for bike/walk/tram.

Build a new one for 4 lanes of traffic. Convert it and Walterdale to both be 2 ways. Add a level for HSR/LRT. Realign 109st to be a straight line.

This will be very expensive. But a critical investment into our transportation for all modes. Could help make downtown feel a lot more accessible for the southside too. Getting provincial/federal support will be key.

Likely this council approves the funds to continue to move forward with an extensive rehabilitation of the bridge in 2026 but without any real upgrades in terms of bridge functionality. Same two lane, one way traffic, same MUPs on each side, streetcar rails on top and that's all.

But by god would it be great having a new bridge on a straight line alignment to 109 while retaining the HLB but I struggle to think there would ever be gumption or imagination to pull the trigger on something like that anytime soon.

 

[thommyjo]

Likely this council approves the funds to continue to move forward with an extensive rehabilitation of the bridge in 2026 but without any real upgrades in terms of bridge functionality. Same two lane, one way traffic, same MUPs on each side, streetcar rails on top and that's all.

But by god would it be great having a new bridge on a straight line alignment to 109 while retaining the HLB but I struggle to think there would ever be gumption or imagination to pull the trigger on something like that anytime soon.

I honestly think it might be one of the highest potential projects in our city. Cost will be rough. But a solution will be forced upon us soon if we don’t plan and prepare. And because of its magnitude, bringing on other levels of government should be possible. Tie it to a major rail project to help. Keeping the current bridge as is will be a money sink 10x worse than not demolishing the coliseum when we should have.