Welcome to the Disraeli Bridges Project blog. The purpose of the Blog is to keep you informed of new developments and to encourage you to ask questions, share your thoughts or express any concerns that you may have about the project as it progresses. I look forward to receiving your input.
Winnipeggers will continue to drive over the Disraeli Bridge during construction, under a proposal submitted by Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the team the City chose as the project’s preferred proponent.
The proposed plan will see minimal disruption to motorists, as a separate, new vehicular bridge will be built, allowing traffic to utilize the existing bridge during construction. The project also features development of a new separate Active Transportation (pedestrian/cycling) bridge over the Red River, built alongside the new vehicular bridge, allowing Winnipeggers to use Active Transportation while crossing the Red River, separated from traffic.
This was the highest scoring proposal and the best value for money choice in terms of cost and benefit. The City is now negotiating a formal contract with Plenary Roads Winnipeg.
Once an agreement is reached, the project team will meet with community groups and hold Open Houses in order to communicate information to stakeholders. After the required permits have been obtained, construction will commence and is expected to be completed in 2012.
Key features of the Plenary Roads Winnipeg proposal include:
- During construction, traffic along the Disraeli will not be interrupted during peak travel times Mondays to Fridays, with a minimum of four travel lanes being available.
- The existing bridges will be replaced with new structures.
- The roadway will be realigned, and exits and entrances will be redesigned to allow for smoother traffic and pedestrian flow.
- A separate new Active Transportation bridge will be built over the existing river bridge piers, providing an accessible, functional and aesthetically pleasing crossing of the Red River. This dedicated bridge will contribute to the City’s overall Active Transportation network.
The Plenary Roads Winnipeg team comprises Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd., PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Wardrop Engineering Inc., Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Borland Construction Inc. The team has global and local experience.
The Disraeli Bridges Project follows the “design-build-finance-maintain” (DBFM) model of procurement. Under this model, the private-sector partner is responsible for financing, design, construction and maintenance costs during the term of the contract, which in the case of the Disraeli Bridges Project is 30 years. For its part, the City will make a commissioning payment and then annual performance-based service payments to the private-sector partner.
The new Disraeli Bridges have a design life of 75 years. The existing bridges were built in 1959/60.
The City’s capital budgets have allocated a total of $195 million for the project. This is a preliminary estimate, and the actual amount may change as plans are finalized. The Governments of Canada and Manitoba have also contributed funding towards the Disraeli Bridges Project.
For more information about the Disraeli Bridges Project, visit: http://www.winnipeg.ca/DisraeliBridges
January 30, 2010 at 7:18 am
Wondered when in 2012 it might be complete. Q2?
February 1, 2010 at 12:10 am
Please provide me with a list of properties that will have to be acquired (expropriated) in order for the bridge reconstruction to occur.
February 4, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Dear Sir:
Three days have passed since I asked a couple of questions about this Disraeli project.
Let’s try again shall we?
1.Will these two new spans each have a separate bicycle lane or has the redesign eliminated them?
2. Will there be any public open house to show the final design?
3. It would boost the profile of this blog if there was a link to it on the other Disraeli Bridge Project page; that being the link in your post above.
That’s all for now.
February 8, 2010 at 3:15 am
I think it seems to shows the city isn’t thinking long term for this massive undertaking.
Henderson hwy is 4 lanes each way which narrows to 3 at the bridge, then 2 going over the bridge. Having a 2 lane each way on the new bridge will do nothing to support future traffic growth to the East Kildonan, North Kildonan and St Andrew’s area’s. The disraeli bridge is really the only viable option in to this neighbourhood as the redwood bridge is 1 lane each way, and the louis bridge is the same.
The city should plan long term and make the bridge 3 lanes each way instead of two. I understand this may cause issues as certain businesses are already close to the existing structure, but the bridge could always be made taller, or the businesses relocated and the buildings removed.
Henderson Hwy should be considered a major route like the Main St Bridge, the planned new Osborne Bridge, and the new Bishop Grandin bridges.
March 9, 2010 at 4:44 am
Kudos to the planners for planning it in such a way as to minimize the disruption to traffic but especially for including a dedicated and separate pedestrian/cycling route. I’ve walked the Disraeli from downtown to my home in EK hundreds of times and never felt completely safe from traffic. I’ve often seen the aftermath of vehicles jumping the curb and hitting the outside guard rail. It would have been only a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt, or killed.
Well done.
March 13, 2010 at 8:04 pm
What is going to happen to the homes located on Midwinter, Talbot, and Riverton closest to the existing bridge? will they have to be demolished?
March 22, 2010 at 4:29 am
Mr. Hunter;
There is no mention in your post or in any of the city press releases about how this revised project will affect homeowners in the area.
What explanation can you provide for the fact that no open houses were conducted, which would have allowed for public input regarding these new bridge designs ?
Please post a blog detailing the form/dates of other consultations which have been conducted with residents of Elmwood and the Points regarding possible expropriations and construction-related damage to their homes (foundation and walls cracking etc.) .
Please do not include on that list the open-houses that took place prior to Premier Gary Doer offering additional funding, as his offer completely changed the timetable and designs and were rendered moot.
This example of a city infrastructure process shutting out the public is now an urgent concern — as we were told by Martin Landy (Friday March 19th) that up to 14 property owners may lose their homes now.
Can you confirm or deny that up to 14 houses may be bulldozed to make way for the new bridge on-ramps/approaches etc.?
How much money has been allocated in the budget for potential buy-outs? Any? None?
Our audience was very disturbed to learn of this lack of a proper consultation process, on the heels of seeing the Omand’s Creek Bike Bridge almost being rammed down the throats of residents of Wolseley.
Landy said that the city officials and consultants refused to discuss ANY aspect of this construction project with them, yet work is proceeding. Is that true?
Marty Gold
The Great Canadian Talk Show
92.9 Kick-FM
March 23, 2010 at 11:14 pm
You have not published my questions about why there were no open houses about the Doer-funded bridges, or the potential of expropriations and displaced families in Elmwood and Point Douglas.
Are you just slow to get around to answering them, or is the city practicing censorship of this blog?
March 25, 2010 at 12:33 am
I keep hoping you will put a site plan on the web showing the projected layout of the new bridge.
ws
March 27, 2010 at 9:33 pm
WE need a Grand Vision .
I am interested in seeing what the new plan is. I have written the city about some new ideas however I have received no response. I believe we need to rethink the whole freeway. The Point Douglas neighbourhood is changing from industrial to residential and we have a freeway running right through it. Why?
I suggest the following.
1. Build one bridge over the river.
2. Turn the freeway onto Sutherland and widden road
3. Revise the intersection at Sutherland and Main Street
4 Reconstruct the CPR subway bridge at Main Street
Benefits
1.We are fixing two items at once. Entry to North End Winnipeg as well as the Kildonans
2 We save money on constructing only one bridge on the freeway and use that to construct a new CPR subway on Main street.
3 With some imagination we could design something like they did on the Main Street bridge. A good way of helping rejuvenate the north end of the city
4 Piont Douglas win by not splitting up the neighjbourhood with a freeway.
5 CPR subway is in great need of replacing
Winnipeg 40 years ago had a vision for the future. We need to have visionaries in the city again.
March 27, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Mr. Hunter:
Please advise who is responsible for editing or posting comments to this blog.
It was not until I raised the matter of censorship, that not only were my questions posted, but suddenly 6 comments with similar concerns appeared which preceeded my post.
They were not visible when I stumbled across this blog or I would have surely referenced the questions of Vanderhorst, Iveniuk and Steinthorson in my own query.
It was also not until I raised the censorship issue that a new blog post suddenly materialized yesterday, with some vague claims of accountability and transparency regarding the effects of this project on property owners.
It would appear that substantial control over citizen participation in this blog was being exercised by someone at city hall, and that their questions were ignored for almost 2 months. I intend to get to the bottom of it.
Would the people who have posted to this blog please email me :
talk@kick.fm
regarding these serious issues.
March 30, 2010 at 3:13 am
i believe it is an absolute win win situation for residents. the major players, involved in the planning and construction are proven players. tried and tested. Their responsibility for 30 years is without flaw. Yes they are in it for a profit. Doubtful they will be over budget as is the case with most capitol projects. Kudos to the efforts put in by all.
March 31, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I see this is a one sided venture we were never made aware of any meetings nor did we recieve a letter How do you expect me to recoop my buisness we have thousands of customers that are behind us and do not want us to move we bring good to the point duglas area and have a patition this is not fair to a buisness owner. The least the city could do is re locate us at the city’s expence.
April 7, 2010 at 12:59 pm
@ pc: And you are a representative of whom, exactly?
April 14, 2010 at 10:08 am
Hello : I was at the Kelvin open house last night and although i am critical of how this whole process evolved at the beginning (16 month closure) I must admit and commend you on the job you have done in pulling this one out of the fire . The new plan is excellent and serves the taxpayers in a efficient fashion with minimal disruption. The next time a major project is started please take the last 6 months as your example of how to do things and not the year that proceded it.
editor’s note: Open House was held at Bronx CC
April 15, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Mr Walding,
Are you kidding? The past 6 months have been a process of secrecy and dictatorial rule by people who are unelected with the assistance of spin jargon designed to baffle residents into submission. The “plan” stinks. Frost covered bridges aren’t safe, separate bridges for 45 cyclists are folly, (even with straight site lines and good lighting), and not immediately planning for 6 lanes is typical of Winnipeg’s inability to plan for tomorrow. Can we PLEASE stop calling this 60 km/hr zone a “Freeway”!
Winnipeg, One Great City
April 15, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Note: Above post should have read, “CURVING” frost covered bridges aren’t safe.