7993 replies to this topic

[lanforod]

Those guard rails on the trail are terrible - they narrow the path down by almost a metre for almost no reason. My bet is they're gone within a few years because of congestion issues on the trail.

 

That was my first thought as well. But I think in reality, they are just narrowing the path by a foot or so off the bridge, as most of the angle goes over that big concrete curb. On the bridge, it isn't a metre or even 3 feet, I don't think. Maybe 2 feet. It also makes it look more interesting, and probably does make them stronger

[Bingo]

Those guard rails on the trail are terrible - they narrow the path down by almost a metre for almost no reason. My bet is they're gone within a few years because of congestion issues on the trail.

 

 

The slant will keep bikes from getting caught on the post and wires especially if they are pulling trailers.

But I wonder if they are high enough to keep a cyclist from going over the railing in a collision.

[Coreyburger]

The slant will keep bikes from getting caught on the post and wires especially if they are pulling trailers.

But I wonder if they are high enough to keep a cyclist from going over the railing in a collision.

 

Which means the railing design is flawed. You can design a railing that doesn't cost space on an already too-narrow path and doesn't get caught. The simple solution is to bend the railing out rather than in

[Nparker]

...an already too-narrow path...

This path is sufficiently wide for the amount of non-vehicular traffic it will likely need to accommodate. It is vastly wider than what the current bridge offers. Neither cyclists nor pedestrians need the equivalent of a freeway with passing lanes to get from the heart of downtown to the trail on the western side (and vice-versa). If a significant number of non-CoV taxpayers find themselves using it and feel it is insufficient, then perhaps they should have ponied-up some cash towards the cost of a design more to their liking.

[Gary H]

Well, the guard rails on the south side of the approach, and I assume the leaf as well, are not slanted.  The part of the trail that leads to the approach is slanted on both sides but It is hard to tell from my distance exactly how much encroachment there is.  For example, the rails on the south side of the path leading to the approach don't look like they encroach at all.  I certainly don't think the encroachment is a half metre on both sides, that's over 19 inches.  I think it might be closer to 6", a foot total.  A picture from the fence of the Janion plaza looking west should resolve the issue.

Edited by Gary H, 21 July 2017 - 10:36 AM.

[Hotel Mike]

I thought the slanted rails with more width at the base is to help with things like wheelchairs or bikes that might get a bit close. In any case, the installation here is exactly what is on the Ogden Point Breakwater.

 

I love the lighting on the side of the bridge. Oh man. If they ever get this thing done, the new bridge will look awesome. Its opening will be the watershed event in getting people onto bikes when they realize how easy it is to connect with the Galloping Goose and E&N Trails.

[Linear Thinker]

I think part of the slant is so that it's harder for a kid (example) to climb up and over the railing.

Although vertical slats would accomplish the same thing.

[Bingo]

Meanwhile, work continues...

 

The MUP guardrails are really taking shape and as I suspected are a combination of cables and extrusions.  

 

 

 

 

The bridge railing is different than the breakwater railing which is curved and much more attractive.

But I don't suppose the designers even looked at that example as straight posts are easier to make, eh!

 

 

 

 

 

[Hotel Mike]

You're right. Similar to Ogden Point but not the same. Thanks.

[Coreyburger]

You're right. Similar to Ogden Point but not the same. Thanks.

 

And those Ogden Point handrails were designed not to shrink the amount of usable space on the breakwater, which is what the JSB ones should have have

[HB]

And those Ogden Point handrails were designed not to shrink the amount of usable space on the breakwater, which is what the JSB ones should have have

They are not using any usable space on the JSB the top of the rail is plumb with the concrete curb they are bolted to

[Coreyburger]

They are not using any usable space on the JSB the top of the rail is plumb with the concrete curb they are bolted to

On the approach path maybe, but on the bridge deck they definitely are

[Bingo]

                   There is no curb that is higher than the deck, as the concrete and asphalt are at the same level.

                   The railings are slanted in on the left of the photograph, but the railings to the right seem to be vertical.

 

                     Gary H photo has been cropped.

[HB]

the fact remains no usable portion of the road is being taken up by the railing

[Gary H]

From ground level it does appear to take up more of the path than it needed to.  But is it REALLY going to make a difference - probably not, I mean how close to the edge of a bridge would you really feel comfortable biking?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Gary H, 27 July 2017 - 09:05 PM.

[Gary H]

The island sidewalk on the west side of Store St. has been poured.

 

[Nparker]

The island sidewalk on the west side of Store St. has been poured...

And further to that there will soon be this

On Sunday, August 13 the Johnson Street Bridge and road approaches between Harbour Road and Wharf Street will be closed from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., while paving takes place between Wharf Street and the new bridge.  Starting Monday, July 31^st, drivers and cyclists can expect daytime congestion and delays in this area, as preparation work takes place in advance of final paving...pedestrian and cyclist connections between downtown and the Victoria West neighbourhood will be maintained...

http://www.johnsonst...r-final-paving/

[Gary H]

That reminds me, I forgot to mention they've removed the fencing on the south side of the approach.  The paving Nparker mentions should bring the asphalt up to the concrete curb and eliminate those temporary asphalt berms as can be seen in the pic below.

 

Edited by Gary H, 27 July 2017 - 08:07 PM.

[Nparker]

 

I trust not much more time/expense will go into landscaping that median as hopefully it will be smack-dab in the middle of the Northern Junk project soon. 

[Bingo]

From ground level it does appear to take up more than of the path than it needed to.  But is it REALLY going to make a difference - probably not, I mean how close to the edge of a bridge would you really feel comfortable biking?

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't there thousands of cyclists crossing the bridge every day, and when the peloton arrives and gets hung up on those wires there could be a few crashes.

Edited by Bingo, 27 July 2017 - 08:56 PM.