Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[burn_this_city]

I love that anyone against the pork barrel project is a sun reader. The great Ducay knows best though.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

We'll see about those facts. Theed sounds like he has some insider knowledge on this topic, and I trust when he says we'll be footing the bill for some additional costs. Construction contracts are hardly airtight, as I alluded to earlier in this thread.

I don't have insider info. But I do work in the industry.

I should clarify. The city won't be paying any more to the contractor for the bridge, perhaps some small changes unrelated to the problems with the bridge.

The extra costs to the city will come from the salaries of the people on city payroll in charge of the bridge. Obviously, they will be putting more time into the project now, which means more dollars spent on the project.

Construction contracts are pretty airtight, changes can add money, but like I've said before, correcting problems is not a change in the scope of work, therefore, no change to allow for extra money.

Again, I have no insider info, so I don't know exactly what is going on, I can just go by what I see, and what is reported. I don't see changes that are going to add significant amounts to the contract. I said $30 million MAX, but really, is the city going to spend $5 million on extra salaried staff time? Likely not, but let's say there's a few small changes, and we can say $5 million just to cover all the bases, and add a little extra on top to make sure.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

The design of the bridge is fine but the fire red is silly. For most of the year Calgary is a white or brown city and you'll be able to see that bridge stand out from space.

This city is awash in browns and beiges, we need more colour in this city. Damn right it will stand out, and I welcome it gladly.

What I don't get is why a city built on such a drab landscape for most of the year reinforces those colours in our homes and buildings. Get some colour in there to contrast it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I don't mind having a nice new bridge. I was walking downtown yesterday for the first time in a long time and I really like the work they are doing on the path ways. So this bridge will fit with that.

What I don't like about this bridge but I will get over it.
1. The fact that they called in the Peace Bridge for the wrong reasons. I think they are just trying to make a bad situation better by using the military. I wonder if the military takes this as a bit of an insult.
2. The color red. I am not sure how it will look.
3. The delays of course.

It was called the Peace Bridge as a tie in with Memorial Drive. Sure I guess there could be short-term political gains (although if anything this seems to have back-fired, assuming that was the intent), but in 15 years hopefully the politics are an after-thought and we just have a cool bridge with a name that makes sense.

[V]

That's some pretty solid revisionist history, Slava.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by V

That's some pretty solid revisionist history, Slava.

How so? I was talking about looking at this in 15 years time?

[V]

It was not named the Peace Bridge as a tie-in to Memorial Drive. It was named that solely for the political gains that you so casually write off in your post.

If it was named the Peace Bridge at the start of the project you'd have the point. The name wasn't brought in until the project was looking like political suicide.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by V

It was not named the Peace Bridge as a tie-in to Memorial Drive. It was named that solely for the political gains that you so casually write off in your post.

If it was named the Peace Bridge at the start of the project you'd have the point. The name wasn't brought in until the project was looking like political suicide.

That's the perception, but Slava's explanation is the more logic level headed one. It's likely the name was going to be revealed at the opening of the Bridge or just before, but since there was blowback, someone thought it would be a good idea to announce it early. THAT decision was poor.

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I see Sun readers still don't need to bother themselves with silly details like contract terms......or facts

Yah, you know it, buddy, I was totally saying that the City has secretly signed a "cost plus" contract and is on the hook for everything!!!

But now that you've explained all the facts to me so completely, I realize that the delays and problems are not going to cost the City a single dime, in any way whatsoever.

Those are the only two possible options.

[Jedi Ninja]

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[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by V

It was not named the Peace Bridge as a tie-in to Memorial Drive. It was named that solely for the political gains that you so casually write off in your post.

If it was named the Peace Bridge at the start of the project you'd have the point. The name wasn't brought in until the project was looking like political suicide.

The name actually makes it even worse. I wish there was a name with a greater significance to Calgary, since we obviously can't just get rid of the thing and get our money back.

[SeeBass]

Is it not called the "Piece" bridge

Seems more correct

[jayswin]

Guys, the attempted jokes in this thread are just hurtin'.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I love that anyone against the pork barrel project is a sun reader. The great Ducay knows best though.

I would agree, somewhat, that is is pork. However, it's pork for an area of the city that's get absolutely shafted in terms of value-per-tax-dollar-paid at all levels of government.

Downtown Calgary subsidizes suburban sprawl, lost its hospital while the deep South gets a new one, and gets money sucked out through equalization.

At a city level, it's provincial money that had to be spent on something within the constraints of the earmark or would have been lost, so I'm damn glad the city decided to take it.

At the provincial level (and it's the province who's paying for it, not the city), it's kind of a silly earmark, but at least it's going to Calgary.

Overall though $25M is small trivial compared to the suburban development subsidies ($1000M). Where is the outrage over that? I'd gladly lose the bridge, if the subsidies went with it.

[Stay Golden]

Naming the earthworm bridge the Peace Bridge after the fact just oozes military thanks and sincerity doesn't it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by SebC

Overall though $25M is small trivial compared to the suburban development subsidies ($1000M). Where is the outrage over that? I'd gladly lose the bridge, if the subsidies went with it.

Agreed. Take away suburban development subsidies and they can take the Peace Bridge with it. Tacking on amendments to proposals is an American political tradition, and in Canada's most American-like city, this seems appropriate.

[Boblobla]

You beltline people need to stop being so butthurt about us leeches in the suburbs, we are here to stay.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Naming the earthworm bridge the Peace Bridge after the fact just oozes military thanks and sincerity doesn't it.

People keep harping on this but Memorial Drive itself is a tribute to our soldiers. There are numerous projects that were in that were in the works before the bridge and are all tributes to Canada's military. There is a huge project on the corner of the 10th street bridge and Memorial that will be pretty extensive once completed. So if the area itself is designed as a memorial then why would the name "The Peace Bridge" be considered an afterthough to get public approval?

If the city built a bridge across the Elbow river connected to the Stampede grounds and named it "The Stampede Bridge" would there be similar accustations of pandering? I don't think so.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

You beltline people need to stop being so butthurt about us leeches in the suburbs, we are here to stay.

You guys can stay there.. just pay for your own ####, and don't bitch when I get something useful for me!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by kermitology

You guys can stay there.. just pay for your own ####, and don't bitch when I get something useful for me!

Call me when you get something useful and not some massive ego project