A $140-million plan to repair the Disraeli Freeway and build a new bike/pedestrian bridge over the Red River will head to executive policy committee and council tomnorrow even though politicians failed to approve it today.

Council’s public works committee got hung up in a 2-2 vote over the Disraeli reconstruction plan because North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty and Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Lillian Thomas refused to endorse a design that may cause the freeway to be closed for as long as 16 months once work begins in 2010.

City bridge engineers hope to spend only $140 million to repair the single-span, four-lane Disraeli Freeway by reusing existing steel girders and concrete foundations. That plan will require the bridge to be closed when concrete decking that’s crucial to the structural integrity of the bridge will be removed.

Browaty and Thomas want the city to spend more money on a dual-span, six-lane bridge that would allow some traffic to flow during the construction period. City engineers say that would cost upwards of $300 million.

During a 105-minute meeting, a consulting firm hired by the city told councillors the construction would create detours that could add up to nine minutes to a one-way trip from the corner of Chief Peguis Trail and Henderson Highway to downtown Winnipeg.

Mynarski Coun. Harry Lazarenko and committee chairman Bill Clement voted in favour of the plan, noting Winnipeg has faced major bridge repairs before and motorists adapted.

Despite the tie vote, the plan now moves forward to a special meeting of executive policy committee tomorrow and then a vote by council as a whole.

Bike to the Future note:
BttF Co-Chair Kevin Miller appeared in delegation at this meeting to support this proposal and thank the City's staff for recommending it.