06-28-2021, 02:33 PM
(06-27-2021, 11:15 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:I thought people would be happy a piece of pedestrian infrastructure like this is included in a potential proposal. Instead we went straight to a tunnel is better.(06-27-2021, 09:22 PM)westwardloo Wrote: I am sorry, but a tunnel is a ridiculous idea. It would cost 2 to 3 times as much. You would still need a significant ramp down to get under freeway so you wouldn't save much space/distance. Also there are more concerns when it comes to safety. I wouldn't hesitate to take an overpass at night, a tunnel I would think twice about.
First of all, you could use a bit more respect than calling it a "ridiculous idea".
Second of all, could you provide some citations showing that it would cost 2-3 times as much? Bridges over the freeway cost a fortune, and the causeway would also be an expensive project.
As for a "significant ramp"...the reason the overpass must be so high is because the highway carries large vehicles. A tunnel does not need to be nearly so large. Which aside from making it cheaper, also makes the access ramps shorter. And if we wanted to spend 2-3 times as much, we could probably regrade the highway (which is already slightly above ground level because of super-elevation) and make the tunnel level.
As for social safety issues, they can be a problem for tunnels, but if the tunnels are well designed, it significantly mitigates that issue. It is also the case that there are social safety issues for a near 300 meter long bridge and causeway. I know tunnels can be done well, because I have seen tunnels done well...not here of course, but in other places.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that a tunnel costs more than a bridge. but here you go. https://wps.pearsoned.ca/ca_ab_faigley_p...index.html or https://www.pedbikeinfo.org/cms/download...ov2013.pdf or https://www.algonquin.org/egov/docs/1271...343597.pdf
Not a civil engineer, so I don't know but I would assume a tunnel would need be a couple meters below the level of traffic, I guess they could construct a vehicle bridge over the pedestrian path. looking at google earth it does appear that the hwy is built up a bit so that would reduce the ramps down for a tunnel and increase the size of the ramp for a bridge.
Still, I think we need to be realistic about what we should expect to be achieved. I am sure the developer and the city have come up with three potential options. Build a bridge, build a tunnel or do nothing. personally I see them doing nothing over building a tunnel.