Discussions

well it's comin down!just read in google news it will come down in November . what is your thoughts on that?

good, but i hope that they gain some sanity and do not proceed with an "active transportation" bridge which would cost at least one third of what is really required.

You have a link to the story?

http://news.google.ca/news/url?sr=1&ct2=ca%2F1_0_s_14_1_a&sa=t&usg=AFQjCNFUWfOCJBRa1qnKpcuv6A9RSit8Rg&cid=52779152687168&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandonsun.com%2Flocal%2Feighth-st-bridge-to-be-torn-down-in-november-385953561.html&ei=CK5_V9DYO8aGhQH5kLe4BA&rt=SECTION&vm=STANDARD&bvm=section&did=7327051554357917713&sid=984811452503470507&ssid=cstm&st=4&at=dt0

Heard on the radio that they are looking at a pedestrian bridge.

First street has one, and that is a busier route. It would save a lot of taxpayers money. Put in some wide sidewalks, suitable for pedestrians and cyclists, have lights and a crossing arm. I dont think we need a bridge, just a way to get across the tracks. This would also speed up the whole process.

something breaks, don't fix it, just live without it. Great concept.

That 70's guy said "something breaks, don't fix it, just live without it. Great concept. "

Why fix it to get another 5 years out of it. The bridge is aged to the point of needing to rebuild it. And for over 30 million and we know nothing is ever on budget in this province that bridge would be more like 40-50 million to build for what.....roughly 30 city blocks of people? I am all in favor of a foot bridge to serve such a small population of people. It is nice to see the city not spend spend spend.

fuzzy slippers said "First street has one, and that is a busier route. It would save a lot of taxpayers money. Put in some wide sidewalks, suitable for pedestrians and cyclists, have lights and a crossing arm. I dont think we need a bridge, just a way to get across the tracks. This would also speed up the whole process. "

You can't put a crossing over 5 tracks. It would be incredibly dangerous and I'm pretty sure its illegal as well.

I will be cheapest and people and car could still cross. Just like 26th Street.

Is that not a rail yard there? Hardly practical if a road is blocked for a couple of days at a time.

that the city has digressed somewhat in a lot of ways. The flood of 2011 sure took it's toll and we can still see evidence of that 5 yrs later. Think Kid Elenor park, hiking trails aroung the Discovery centre or the Optimist soccer fields, althought they have begun using it again which is nice.  
As for 8th st bridge, it was more used than simply for the people living actoss the tracks from downtown. I'd use it all the time to get places quicker as Pacific is generally free flowing and the bridge was a great shortcut to 18th from the eastern side of town. 18th st Daly bridge "bottleneck" has gotten worst since 8th st went out of commission. I think it's too bad that it can't be fixed or replaced as I for one found it quite useful.

Sure you could put a rail crossing in at that location.  
 
But lets look at the issues. There's five rail lines you have to cross, not just two like usual. The rail lines are below the grade of pacific so you'd have to go down or up a hill and when there is a train, traffic will be backed up onto pacific preventing the movement of traffic. Plus trains sit below the 8th street bridge sometimes for hours with out moving. So people will be pissed that the train is blocking the rail crossing, just like they get on First street and 26th street.  
 
It wont happen, it hasn't even been considered and wont be. Remember CP Rail has to agree to the plan. Good luck with that.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-07-08 20:01:45

The_Young_Man said "Sure you could put a rail crossing in at that location.     But lets look at the issues. There's five rail lines you have to cross, not just two like usual. The rail lines are below the grade of pacific so you'd have to go down or up a hill and when there is a train, traffic will be backed up onto pacific preventing the movement of traffic. Plus trains sit below the 8th street bridge sometimes for hours with out moving. So people will be pissed that the train is blocking the rail crossing, just like they get on First street and 26th street.     It wont happen, it hasn't even been considered and wont be. Remember CP Rail has to agree to the plan. Good luck with that.     Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-07-08 20:01:45"

dead on!!!

That 70's guy said "something breaks, don't fix it, just live without it. Great concept. "

You don''t live in the city as if it was brandon rate payers paying for a new bridge, or if any tax was going up to pay for it with government funding at any level. I got a pretty good idea who would be one of the first guys here screaming about the cost and we don''t need it.  
You can''t win them all without serious spending of money that many people don''t have to give in more tax raises.  
 
Edited by Farmboy74, 2016-07-08 23:18:20

I thought the best option was to do the short term repair to keep it open until after the 18th st bridge is twinned, then remove it. It would have helped with the construction traffic. Once 18th is twinned its no longer needed. Get rid of it, replacement and pedestrian bridge options are too expensive.

The 8th street bridge was paid for primarily by the rail company because people were crossing the tracks near there and causing train delays and interruptions. The City tried to negotiate with the rail company but it fell on deaf ears. All we need to do as a community is continue crossing at or near 8th street, have a few poor souls get hit by trains and soon we will have a bridge again. Now I am not condoning crossing the tracks illegally (which is everywhere without a designated crossing) but that's what needs to happen in order to get a new bridge built. We need to prove the need for the bridge first.  
 
Edited by Andy_Wright, 2016-07-09 07:47:05

are planning to replace it with a pedestrian bridge.

Having lived in the north end all my life it is a huge issue for me and my family not having the 8th street bridge open as I'm sure many families down there also find.  
I have a few issues with taking it away/ making it a pedestrian bridge. Many of the people living in that area are elderly or have families with children and for me having the bridge closed adds a lack of safety to that side of the city. When an ambulance needs to be called, they are coming from 18th down towards lets says 4th street and then they must back track all the way to 18th to get headed in the direction of the hospital. Seems to me that that is wasting precious time, instead of being able to run to the location and then use the 8th street bridge to gain faster access to the hospital.  
Additionally since the bridge has been blocked off i have noticed a lack of police presence and have heard of many people being jumped or beaten on the bridge. Also a safety concern.  
As a city who wanted to bring life back into down town, having the 8th street bridge closed down ( to me) has done the opposite. I simply do not go downtown for my day to day things as having to go from the north end all the way to 18th and then back to 6th street area is a waste of time. If I'm already on 18th might as well keep going. I'm sure other parts of the city encounter this as well and I'm not saying just because it is an inconvenience for my family they should open it. I am just giving my opinion.