January 25, 2010

WILKINSON EYRE ARCHITECTS

Plans for a replacement of the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria, B.C. are on hold as the city examines its options.

Transportation infrastructure

Voters reject loan for new Victoria bridge

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

An attempt by the City of Victoria to borrow millions of dollars to replace the aging Johnston Street Bridge was put on hold after residents voted down the shovel-ready project.

A structural assessment of the Johnson Street bridge found the timber foundations at risk of an earthquake, the concrete piers and abutments eroding, extensive corrosion and pack rust, as well as a coating system that has exceeded its expected service life.

Victoria passed a bylaw to borrow $42 million for construction.

However, the plan hit a snag.

“There were a number of different factions involved and we think there were some who want the bridge saved for the high heritage value,” said Victoria’s communications co-ordinator Howard Markson.

“Some were concerned with the amount of money borrowed. There is another group concerned about process because the city did not go straight to a referendum and was moving too quickly to the new bridge.”

Joseph Strauss designed the Johnson Street Bridge in 1924 and used the Strauss Bascule Bridge system to build it.

The bridge is one of a few bascule bridges left in North America.

A referendum or an alternative approval process is needed for long-term borrowing for infrastructure investment in B.C.

Victoria tried the alternative approval process to qualify for accelerated infrastructure funding from the federal government.

The process allows a loan to be blocked if 10 per cent of the eligible voters sign a counter petition. In this case, it would have required a minimum of 6,300 voters.

The process produced 9,872 verified counter signatures.

“So, clearly this vote met and exceeded the 10 per cent threshold,” said Markson.

“If the city wants to proceed on the same borrowing bylaw, they must go to a referendum within 80 days. However, they chose to take a step back from the whole process and will put a question to referendum. We are not sure right now what that question will be.”

Earlier this month, Victoria City Council passed a motion instructing staff to gather more information related to both replacement and refurbishment options, and to further engage the public.

The total estimated cost of a new bridge is $63 million.

The city didn’t obtain the stimulus spending it was looking for, but did manage to secure $21 million from the federal government under the Building Canada Fund.

Victoria is looking to borrow the remaining $42 million after being turned down for two-thirds funding under the federal-provincial infrastructure program.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects was appointed in July 2009 to develop designs for a replacement bridge.

The preferred proposal is composed of two fixed approach spans of about 20 metres, with a central opening section of 57 metres in length. This option is based on the principle of a ‘rolling wheel’.

The rotation point of the bridge will also be where pedestrians on the west side, along the harbour, walk through it.

The open span bridge will provide a crossing for cars, rail, cycle and pedestrian traffic, as well as marine traffic below.

The new bridge is supposed to last for 100 years, while the city says refurbishment would cost as much as $35 million for a span that would last only 40 years.

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