The City of Winnipeg has unveiled its latest plan for rebuilding the Disraeli Freeway over the Red River, including a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

A report released Monday recommends building a new span for cyclists and pedestrians in addition to refurbishing the structure's concrete foundations and steel girders and replacing the existing bridge deck with a four-lane divided roadway and one sidewalk.

The new bridge, east of the vehicle span, would connect two sections of the city's active transportation route, linking Annabella Street in Point Douglas with Brazier Street in Elmwood.

The report also says that some or all of the bridge's current lanes should remain open during construction, if possible.

Previous plans called for the 40-year-old bridge to close during construction, which city officials hope will be completed by late 2011.

Several municipal and provincial politicians from northeast Winnipeg have called for the bridge to be twinned to allow traffic to move on one side of the bridge while the other is under construction, and to provide extra capacity for future traffic.

The new vision of the project would cost about $15 million more than previously anticipated, the report says. The city had previously planned to spend between $125 million and $160 million, depending on the design, to upgrade the four-lane bridge.

The city's standing committee on infrastructure renewal and public works will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the plan.

Bike to the Future note:

BttF Co-Chair Kevin Miller appeared on CBC Radio One's Up To Speed at 3:05 PM to discuss this story with host Margaux Watt:

• This plan is almost identical to what BttF proposed in a position paper that we submitted to the City on May 9th after attending Public Consultations on May 3rd and participating in a 10-person e-mail discussion among core BttF volunteers.
• BttF, a 100% volunteer group of bicycling advocates, was able to save the City $20M ($15 for the new bridge versus $35M to widen the piers on the vehicle bridge & overpass) while also greatly improving ped and cycling facilities. Win-win.