This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Burrard Bridge Could Lose Vehicle Lane To Create Bike Path

The upgrades aim to improve the intersection with the city's second-highest number of collisions.

Repairs to Vancouver's aging Burrard Bridge could include converting a northbound vehicle lane into one for bikes, and opening both sides of the bridge to pedestrians.

The city unveiled its plans for the 83-year-old heritage structure on Monday morning.

The intersection at Burrard and Pacific Streets at the north end of the bridge has the second highest number of collisions in the city. The proposed bridge work will address the existing design that causes a number of issues, Lon LaClaire, Vancouver's transportation director, told Global News.

The city is proposing to:

  • Widen the north end of the bridge to add a dedicated turn lane. That would mean four lanes of traffic going downtown (two to turn right, and two to go straight up Burrard Street).
  • Change one northbound vehicle lane into a bike lane.
  • Allow pedestrians on both the east and west sidewalks. (Currently, they can only walk on the west side.)
  • Install a signal to control the right-turn lanes onto Pacific Street.

Construction is scheduled to start next year after public consultations. Two open houses are planned for June 6 and 16.

The bridge work is expected to take 20 months.

In 2009, the city turned a southbound vehicle lane into one dedicated to bikes. It's now one of Vancouver's most popular cycling routes, with a record 195,000 bike trips last July alone.

Last summer, the Burrard and Cornwall intersection at the south end of the bridge was redesigned. Previously, it required cyclists and pedestrians to cross 15 lanes of traffic in five stages, noted the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters blog.

Burrard and Cornwall before:

Burrard and Cornwall after:

Check out this cool video of the before/after:

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.