Elmwood
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Bronx Park Community Centre
131 Chelsea Place
4pm to 7pm

Point Douglas
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Norquay Community Centre
65 Granville Street
4pm to 7pm

The Open Houses will be drop-in format (come by any time between 4pm & 7pm) and will present detailed descriptions and visual renderings of the Disraeli Bridges Project.

You’ll be able to discuss any questions you may have with City engineers and representatives of Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the group the city has chosen to design, build and maintain the new bridges.

These public consultations made it clear that Winnipeggers wanted the Disraeli Bridges Project to accommodate motorists as well as pedestrians and cyclists, and they wanted the bridges kept open to vehicular traffic throughout construction.

The Provincial and Federal Government funding received for the project was critical in enabling Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the group the City chose to design, build and maintain the new bridges, to meet these expressed wishes of the public while keeping within budgetary constraints.

Here are some of the key aspects of the design and construction plan developed by Plenary:

• A minimum of four lanes will remain open throughout construction during all peak travel times (Monday to Friday 6 am to 6 pm.
• The bridges crossing the Red River and the CP Rail mainline will be replaced with entirely new structures.
• A separate, new Active Transportation bridge will be built utilizing the existing river bridge piers, proving cyclists, pedestrians and other non-motorized users with an easily accessible, functional and attractive cross of the Red River.
• Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to cross the Red River on the vehicular bridge, which will feature a sidewalk and bike sharrows.
• The bridge and overpass are designed to accommodate future expansion to six lanes, should that option be pursued.
• Improved lighting, landscaping and aesthetic elements such as an under-bridge art gallery and gateway features will create a more attractive and residential feel for the adjoining neighbourhoods.

Some land needs to be acquired for the project. The details of the land acquisition plan are being finalized, and every effort is being made to minimize property disruption. In all, nine residential and 10 commercial/nonresidential properties may be affected, with most involving the acquisition of narrow strips, or slivers, of land. No more than two homes, and possibly none at all depending on final design details, will need to be acquired. The owners of all the affected properties have already been notified, and in accordance with established policy, the City is endeavouring to negotiate the purchase of any required land with the owners.

Representatives from the City and Plenary have recently met and will hold future meetings with neighbourhood groups to keep them up to date on project developments. In addition public information open houses are being scheduled for mid-April

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