Discussions

Our illustrious new 18 th street bridge has a safety issue. There needs to be a guard rail installed on the stretch heading northward where there is now only a 4 inch curb separating a vehicle from a 50- 100 foot drop. Maybe it is still going to happen but if not it needs to before there is a serious accident.

I agree wholeheartedly. It is very scary to look down where there is no protection. I shudder to think what would happen if a vehicle went over the embankment. It is exceptionally scary at night! Hopefully there will be some safeguards put in place before we have a fatal incident.

I strongly dislike the existing barriers they put up! I understand their necessity (I think mostly to keep people from jumping) but I hate the design. I tend to avoid the bridge in the morning and evening when the barriers cast a shadow, as I find the combination of the wavy grating, the bars, and my moving vehicle very disorientating. I'm not sure it's worth complaining about, or even if anyone else has this issue (or if I'm just special LOL).

I cant believe nobody has commented on this until now. Six months ago I thought the Province would have put up some kind of guardrail.  
All we need is winter and some driver speeding along and losing control and I guarantee they will roll 20 times before they come to a stop. Anybody walking down below will be gone.  
But hey the province didn't mow the boulevards this summer so are likely hoping this will go away.  
The Regional director for Highways should have noticed this but who knows maybe waiting for monies to be approved.  
No doubt this is the most dangerous spot for roads in Brandon.

This is the same government that doesn’t care about infrastructure on our secondary roads and highways. But then it doesn’t seem to matter what party is in power out roads seem to go to hell in a hand cart . Sad sad

Has anyone actually contacted the city and province to make this concern heard, or do we all just rant on ebrandon instead and somwhow expect things to change?

I drove over the bridge northbound yesterday and couldn't see where the concern is. Before (south) of the bridge or after, and left (west) or right side?

It’s happening…ever built a bridge…..

Have you ever driven through the mountains, or even from Brandon to Winnipeg on the Trans Canada Highway? Lots worse than the bridge along the way.  
 
Do you need training wheels on your car?

You’re special

yes I have driven through the mountains and from Brandon to Winnipeg. However I have also driven in Manitoba during winter with slush and snow build up and know how easy these conditions can cause your car to slide where you are not expecting it to. Quite easy to jump over a 5 inch curb and down the slope you go, right into Lady of the Lake.

Sounds like a scene from Dukes of Hazzard! I drive that bridge several times a day and unless you're doing 3x the limit...I don't see the problem. And if you are going 3x...you deserve what you get!

This has been a verbalized concern since the bridge has bee constructed.

They have a 2 ft high guard rail for the first section all they have to do is put one up for the next section! Would be more of an issue in the winter but the result of going over would be extremely tragic if not deadly.

First, that 5" curb will be backed by a snowbank from graders on the bridge during the winter.  
 
Second, a bigger concern to me is the river bridge. Look at the space between the two spans before the river both sides. If a car ends up on the median, there is nothing to stop them going down the embankment to the river.

So they put in a load of stop and 4 way stop signs all around that bridge - one is behind Advance Auto body - I understand there will be a road extension going west eventually but as of right now there is no road at all but yet a stop sign has been placed there - cover the blody thing up or take it out until there is a actual road to stop for !

Has anyone thought about contacting the highways department with their concerns? I love the new bridge.

I agree they need to contact somebody if they don’t like the bridge. I love it.

That stop sign is annoying. Somebody will get a ticket for not stopping there. Have fun getting the ticket thrown out in court.  
 
On 18th st going south, the sign for Pacific Ave east should be an overhead sign, not a hidden sign just past the bridge. It would surprise somebody from out of town wanting to go east on Pacific Ave and not seeing the exit ramp until its too late.