VICTORIA, BC — Construction of the new Johnson Street Bridge will begin in May. The current bridge will remain open to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and marine traffic until the new bridge opens in late 2015.
Equipment
will soon arrive at the construction site and crews will begin to clear and
grade land in preparation for construction. Visible work will be seen this June
when two temporary trestles are built on the north sides of the bridge to
support cranes and equipment to build the bridge. This summer, crews will also
upgrade century-old water, sewer, and storm utility pipes in advance of new
road alignments that will be built for the bridge.
While
the existing bridge is expected to remain open throughout construction, some
impacts such as traffic delays, detours, and noise will be unavoidable at
times. The public are invited to attend a drop-in information session to learn
more about upcoming construction activity:
Information
Session
Thursday,
May 2
8
a.m. to 10 a.m.
Swans
Hotel, Collard Room
506
Pandora Avenue
|
Information
Session
Sunday,
May 5
10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Delta
Ocean Pointe Resort, Harbour Room
45
Songhees Road
|
Information
will also be available on the project website www.JohnsonStreetBridge.com
for those who are unable to attend.
With
construction, opportunities for local suppliers and trades are expected. PCL
Constructors Westcoast has been recruiting locally for trades positions. Based
on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ calculation for short-term job
creation per million dollars of infrastructure investment, about 900 short-term
jobs are expected as a result of this project.
Local
hotels, restaurants and adjacent businesses are also expected to benefit from
construction. The Urban Development Institute estimates that construction of
the new bridge will have long-term local economic benefits in excess of $500
million. This includes economic benefits from new development and overall
revitalization of the area.
Upon
completion, the new bridge will be the largest single-leaf bascule bridge in
Canada – and one of the largest in the world – creating a new iconic structure
and destination within Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It will feature new pathways
and bike lanes, improving overall accessibility for cyclists, pedestrians, and
those who use mobility aids. It will also feature new plaza areas for the
public to view the harbour, an improved navigation channel for marine vessels,
and will be built to a lifeline seismic standard. A public art piece and new
public green space are planned enhancements to the area as a result of the
bridge project.
For
the latest information on the project, and to view the project webcam, visit
www.JohnsonStreetBridge.com
www.JohnsonStreetBridge.com
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