Bridge to Nowhere?

[Slava]

I was wondering what people think of the city looking to spend $25 million to build one bridge and design the other? According to Ric McIvor the two bridges could be built for a total of $10 million instead of the approximately $50 million that is alledged here...thoughts?

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...e-f2740f6149d2

[fredr123]

$25 million seems reasonable for a bridge to Edmonton. A train seems more practical though.

Seriously though, here are links to two bridges mentioned in the story as being "iconic":
Sundial Bridge - Redding California
Liberty Bridge, Greenville, South Carolina

Note that the designer of the Sundial Bridge, Santiago Calatrava, is being pegged as the designer for Calgary's new bridges.

Assume City Hall will bung something up and the actual cost, either way, will be much higher than expected. Do CPers support an "iconic" bridge philosophy or do you just want a quick and dirty way to walk across the river?

I'd like to see something iconic, personally. Much of the architecture in this city is mundane. Some of the new projects, such as The Bow, take great strides towards being aesthetically pleasing and such projects should be highlighted and encouraged. Not really keen on the giant price tag though but I suppose if you want to build something noteworthy you're probably going to have to write a big check to cover the costs.

[burn_this_city]

Blinkin Rick should be the next Mayor, hes one of the only ones who spends our money carefully. ^^ its supposed to be a pedestrian bridge not a giant harp..

[BlackArcher101]

I first came into this thread thinking... "What the hell? $25mil isn't bad at all for a bridge, let alone to include the design of a second". Then upon reading I discovered it was a pedestrian bridge... are they mad?

Lethbridge's curved ped. bridge over the oldman next to whoop-up drive doesn't look too bad... I'll have to dig up what that one cost.

[mykalberta]

People have to live with the consequences of their actions.

They voted in Bronco knowing full well how he operates. He would rather build 1 amazing bridge than 5 functional bridges.

People who either didnt vote in the municipal elections or voted for him dont deserve to complain - not implying anything about you personally but this is Bronco after all.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya, its something that a fag would design.

lol, I just think it would look out of place considering how plain the rest of our infrastructure is.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

People have to live with the consequences of their actions.

They voted in Bronco knowing full well how he operates. He would rather build 1 amazing bridge than 5 functional bridges.

People who either didnt vote in the municipal elections or voted for him dont deserve to complain - not implying anything about you personally but this is Bronco after all.

Don't look at me I voted for Alnoor! j/k

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya, its something that a fag would design.

I didn't know that Alec Baldwin was an architect. Man that guy does it all.

[burn_this_city]

Seems rediculous to me to build a fancy artistic bridge when steel prices are at all time highs.. Plus these preliminary cost estimates are always much lower than the total project cost once they dither for a year or two deciding what to do.

[octothorp]

The $25 million approved by council will only fully fund one of the bridges, at the west end of Prince's Island.

Thank goodness! As one of the maybe 500 people who live between the Princess Island east bridge and the LRT bridge, I'm relieved that the city is spending $25 million specifically to reduce the walk to get downtown by five minutes for me and the 499 affected people. Although really, this bridge is only useful to the people who not only live between 7th street and 5a street, but also work downtown between 8th and 4th. So you're probably looking at closer to 100 people who benefit. Still though, money well spent. About time the rest of you suburban freeloaders paid for something completely extravagant and unnecessary for us inner city folk.

[nik-]

This city needs to focus a bit on aesthetics now instead of purely functionality.

Public structures and spaces are what makes a city great. People like Ric McIvor are the reason we have a huge courthouse downtown that looks like every other office building instead of the great building it could have been.

I don't care if it's specifically Calatrava that makes these bridges, but at least the city is starting to think of form as well as function. Frank Gehry made a cool looking bridge in Chicago. I'm not a fan of his buildings, but I like the bridge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Pedestrian_Bridge

Unfortunately it wouldn't work for what Calgary is getting since they want the span crossed without anything going into the water.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Blinkin Rick should be the next Mayor, hes one of the only ones who spends our money carefully.

yeah, and that's why Calgary is about as culturally relevant as Grozny. Saying no to everything is not being careful, it's not doing your job as a city leader. McCiver has absolutely no vision, what a great man to be mayor.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Seems rediculous to me to build a fancy artistic bridge when steel prices are at all time highs.

You do realize that they aren't starting construction next week right? By the time this thing gets built, the commodities price structure could be totally different.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Table 5

yeah, and that's why Calgary is about as culturally relevant as Grozny. Saying no to everything is not being careful, it's not doing your job as a city leader. McCiver has absolutely no vision, what a great man to be mayor.

And whats been Bronco's vision? Tax and spend.. Who gives a crap about cultural relevance? Honestly I fail to see how people think the city is ugly. The beauty here is the landscape and green spaces, not structures made of concrete and steel. Drive around a few american cities and tell me we arent lucky.

[mykalberta]

I hate to say this but I support the bridges.

As someone who uses the bridges a minimum of 12 times per week when not on vacation I would vote yes.

Also, if Calgary has now decided to not encourage suburban hell, the Bridges would go along way in showing people they mean business.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Table 5

You do realize that they aren't starting construction next week right? By the time this thing gets built, the commodities price structure could be totally different.

Well judging by the last couple of years the only direction costs go is upward. This is alberta we're talking about, construction costs here are rediculous. We've seen steel prices for things like pipe piles triple over the last 12 months.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Who gives a crap about cultural relevance? Honestly

I do. And so does the rest of the world. Why do you think people travel thousands of miles to go to cities like Paris and London? The utilitarian road network? No, its to go see the world-class museums, the famous landmarks, and bask in the cultural atmosphere.

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The beauty here is the landscape and green spaces, not structures made of concrete and steel.

yeah, that's because the structures are downright awful in most cases. That's why people are trying to change that.

[burn_this_city]

[quote=Table 5;1426913][quote=burn_this_city;1426900]Who gives a crap about cultural relevance? Honestly

I do. And so does the rest of the world. Why do you think people travel thousands of miles to go to cities like Paris and London? The utilitarian road network? No, its to go see the world-class museums, the famous landmarks, and bask in the cultural atmosphere.



yeah, that's because the structures are downright awful in most cases. That's why people are trying to change that.

Thats taken hundreds of years to develop. Throwing money at it doesnt fix the problem overnight.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Thats taken hundreds of years to develop. Throwing money at it doesnt fix the problem overnight.

You sure got a lot of pre-packaged soundbites at the ready. Who's trying to "fix the problem overnight"? Nobody is "throwing money". All the city is trying to do is slowly and surely emerge from cultural wasteland status.

[WhiteTom]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Thats taken hundreds of years to develop. Throwing money at it doesnt fix the problem overnight.

You've got to start somewhere though.

I really like the idea they have here, but I think that having two ridiculously expensive bridges is a bit much.