Today's photo is just to remind my fellow Victorians that today is the day to decide the fate of the Johnson Street Bridge. The photo was taken in September a year ago when an art event to celebrate the bridge was organized by artist Derek Houston and johnsonstreetbridge.org. Lots of meetings and discussions later, today it all comes to a vote on whether to build a new bridge or not.
UPDATE:
November 21 - Victoria voted. We are to have a new bridge but since it will take 4 years to build it we will have lots of time to say goodbye the old Blue Bridge. I think we'll lose a valuable bit of our history when it's gone but I look forward to the new span with interest.
8 comments:
How do you stand on the issue?
I was surprised at how run down it looked, esp. up close, in the 3 yrs since I visited in 2007. The paint has faded so much and everything's rusty. Something needs to be done. I've never been a fan of bridges with cement counterweights, so it wouldn't make me sad to see it rebuilt in a more aesthetically pleasing drawbridge design. On the other hand, I the value of restoring it for history's sake.
Victorians are very vitriolic when it comes to change. The debate about this bridge has gotten snarky among my Facebook friends. I'm in Saanich so it's not my fight, but, as a cyclist, my preference would be a new bridge.
I vote to keep it and renovate it! But then, I don't know how much $$$$$ that would cost! Fun balloons!
I just walked over the Johnson Street bridge for the first time last summer but having grown up in Victoria remember the bridge as it is now for many years. I wish they could keep it and fix it, but if safety is an issue, then maybe it is its time.
I'll be surprised if the vote passes to borrow the $49 million to replace it considering two years ago we were told it could be repaired for 8 million.
All the options aren't out there.
Took a good look at it the other day and was absolutely astounded that it has been 'allowed' to rust to the degree it is now.
As a cyclist, I supported a new bridge, but acknowledged that our needs alone couldn't justify replacing the old bridge. However, it was one of many 'little' reasons that added up to a new bridge as the best solution in my mind. I never expected this to be as polarizing an issue as it turned out to be.
Here's an idea: since the new bridge will constructed beside the old one, when completed, why not use two, until the old one gives up the ghost ?
This could really reduce traffic 'funneling'.. for awhile at least.
... and/or .. continue using just the railroad bridge.
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