Drury Lane Bridge reconstruction approved

Construction slated for spring/summer

Great news – on Feb. 21, city council approved the interim repairs for the Drury Lane pedestrian bridge. That will get the bridge back in service by this summer and extend its life for another five years while we plan for a longer term pedestrian connection over the CN tracks. The repair works will cost $380,000, which will be funded from savings from the Fairview/Brant road work project. Full replacement is estimated at $2 million, but further costing, and options, still need to be completed.

Saving the bridge for now wouldn’t have happened without you – all the residents who came to the meeting or contacted councillors by phone or email. You made your case well for why this bridge is essential infrastructure, a point of connectivity for residents to the rest of the city, a way to keep cars off the road, a mobility link for our seniors and youth, and a fulfillment of our commitments in the new Strategic Plan to walkable neighbourhoods.

I’m proud of everyone who spoke, attended, emailed or called members of council. You spoke with passion and reason for the continuation of this vital link between your community and essential work, play, school and recreational activities on the other side of the bridge.

Council also passed a staff direction to look at opoortunities for other pedestrian rail crossings in the city, with a longer term view of increasing walkability in all our neighbourhoods.

My Take: I support repairing the bridge to get it quickly back into service for residents who currently rely on it for transportation to work, the library, arenas, community centres, and schools. With the bridge back in service we will have time to consider more fully all options – and budget for them – to make this isolated neighbourhood more pedestrian friendly.