Wellington Bridge Replacement

[Daveography]

https://www.facebook.com/HeritageForward/posts/1552719478253421

Wellington Bridge Replacement | City of Edmonton

The Wellington Bridge, located on 102 Avenue between 130 Street and 132 Street, is being replaced.

www.edmonton.ca

 

[_Citizen_Dane_]

With the exception of the High Level and original Low Level span, I think that Wellington is the only other bridge that should be retained in perpetuity, if possible. It's certainly our nicest looking and I really hope they end up keeping the arches and railings. Having said that, even I'll admit the work is needed, especially now with the 102nd Avenue bike lane. The thin sidewalks are a real hazard.

For those of you who are unaware, the bridge is an interesting piece in that it was a major Depression-era make-work project. Here's some clippings from the June 29th, 1932 Journal:

 

[Gronk!]

Edmonton’s Carol Sweet’s faces challenges due to Wellington Bridge construction

For over 20 years, Carol’s Sweets has brightened up the southwest edge of Edmonton’s downtown core with it’s colourful and exotic sweet treats. “We’ve been actually making chocolates in Edmonton,” said Carol Logan, Owner of Carol’s Sweets. Lately, business has been tough, between lengthy bridge...

edmonton.citynews.ca

 

[degrandprix]

Wellington Bridge Replacement | City of Edmonton

The Wellington Bridge, located on 102 Avenue between 130 Street and 132 Street, is being replaced.

www.edmonton.ca

Looks like they will replicate the railings in the new design, but no mention of maintaining the arches.

I always thought the metal supports underneath were temporary and wanted to get a nice photo of it after they were removed, guess I'll never have the chance. Anyone happen to have one?

 

[thommyjo]

View attachment 612502

Looks like they will replicate the railings in the new design, but no mention of maintaining the arches.

I always thought the metal supports underneath were temporary and wanted to get a nice photo of it after they were removed, guess I'll never have the chance. Anyone happen to have one?

I wonder if the arches are 1) extra, unnecessary cost, 2) risks for graffiti/unsafe activities maybe? A shame though, they were unique and beautiful.

 

[Barnaby]

I don't think retaining the arches is unnecessary. We've essentially been promised an identical bridge, and that's not what this is.

 

[husky]

I don't think retaining the arches is unnecessary. We've essentially been promised an identical bridge, and that's not what this is.

I think retaining the arches is unnecessary, especially in these tight economic times. If they can retain elements of the design on the top, such as the railings, then it will appear to be a similar bridge to the majority of bridge users.

A standard girder bridge will also have less impact on the ravine below and will likely be quicker to build.

 

[Gronk!]

Wellington Bridge Replacement | City of Edmonton

The Wellington Bridge, located on 102 Avenue between Churchill Crescent and Wellington Crescent, will be replaced.

www.edmonton.ca

 

[northlands]

Really is a cool bridge, shame it’s at the end of it’s useful life. Definitely looking quite long in the tooth, heck even the temporary reinforcements look beat.

 

[TAS]

 

[TAS]

Lord knows I don't want to rush time, but if I could fast forward 1 day to 2030, I would love to see what city core is like with completed bridges, LRT, parks, housing projects some neighbourhood renewals, more bike paths etc. Should be pretty cool.

 

[thommyjo]

Lord knows I don't want to rush time, but if I could fast forward 1 day to 2030, I would love to see what city core is like with completed bridges, LRT, parks, housing projects some neighbourhood renewals, more bike paths etc. Should be pretty cool.

A few more years of pain for sure.

Valley line west.
Warehouse park and all the stuff around it.
Jasper ave renewal.
Whikwentowin renewal.

These will be massive.

 

[buildings]

was out choring around lunch time today and unfortunately found myself on 124st north of Jasper..It was a parking lot all the way up to 107ave. the more you know. also, yesterday evening rush hour saw 103 ave east of 116st backed up all the way to 112st. madness!

 

[thommyjo]

was out choring around lunch time today and unfortunately found myself on 124st north of Jasper..It was a parking lot all the way up to 107ave. the more you know. also, yesterday evening rush hour saw 103 ave east of 116st backed up all the way to 112st. madness!

Good news is our first “month of snow” is still 20+ degrees

(Month of snow in reference to all those claiming we have 8 months of snow, I.e Sept is the beginning of Transit and Biking being unbearable)

The majority of people using Wellington are single occupancy commuters going to fixed offices/schools, with little they’re carrying. Many more of them don’t need to be in vehicles in Sept/Oct.

 

[TAS]

Good news is our first “month of snow” is still 20+ degrees

(Month of snow in reference to all those claiming we have 8 months of snow, I.e Sept is the beginning of Transit and Biking being unbearable)

The majority of people using Wellington are single occupancy commuters going to fixed offices/schools, with little they’re carrying. Many more of them don’t need to be in vehicles in Sept/Oct.

Wow, hearing about that congestion, I'm appreciating my bike even more right now.

Thing is, you can have 100 bikes on a route together or 10 bikes and it will basically take the same amount of time versus vehicles where the more there are, the worse things get. Even with the couple of blocks detour for bikes at wellington bridge, it's pretty minor.

Sometimes people say active transportation advocacy is about ideology. Actually it's about geometry. Vehicles don't do well with high volumes, stop and go intersections every 2nd block and detours.

Outdoor elements can make biking hard at times, though. And most of my trips are under 5km and almost all are under 10km. So for much longer trips, bike isn't as ideal for many - although people do it and manage fine.