Franklin Blvd bridge issue

Dec. 16/09 update: [1] despite recent studies on the issue, it would appear that no long term work could start for 4 - 6 years.

[2] the purpose of today's update is to describe the situation and suggest 'interim' but immediate safety measures.

The first two photos show approach from north side. The approach could be widened and paved

between the bridge and Holiday Inn Drive traffic lights. Land is available for easy berm widening.
The right image from "google earth" clearly shows the relative wide approach that narrows at the bridge.

Then on this widened area, construct a paved trailway, even using flex bollards as on Blair Rd.

View from standing on the bridge's sidewalk. Make it safe? How many incidents of cars mounting sidewalks?

Photos below from a 2002 trip to Mississauga demonstrate how they dealt with similar situations on bridges.

Heading south, there is a need to widen the walkway area and then design a crossing situation
at the 401 off ramp that feeds traffic on to Franklin.

A variety of design and structural features could be implemented to safely guide pedestrians and cyclists
across the off ramp lane.
1 There is ample land on Franklin to construct a wide trailway on the grassed area that would permit t
he construction of a paved trailway to connect to planned sidewalks and cycle facilities on Pinebush.

Here is how they did int Mississauga as seen on our 2002 visit to examine their "trails".

the first 3 images show a properly designed and safe 'jug handle approach to the off ramp.

Another basis for examining the off ramp crossing can be made by looking at our trails that cross traffic circles.

Northview Heights trail is the most frequently used in the city ... and it crosses two high volume road at a circle.

1. First image shows traffic circle at the Can-Amera/Conestoga intersection with Northview Heights trail

2. Second image clearly shows 'safe' jug handle approach on trailway at Townline Rd. multiple lane traffic circle

3. Right image shows the controversial single lane crossing at the Franklin/401 off ramp.

4. All of the proposed 11 Franklin Rd. will require pedestrians and cyclists to cross multiple lanes.

4. seems to me the only serious issue is the speed of traffic on the off-ramp - therefore deal with that issue.

But in the real world of politics, I predict that the King Canute solution will continue to be used at the Franklin Blvd. bridge.

Here are some photos to illustrate to show on bridge sidewalk solutions in other communities

Port Dalhousie Fenelon Falls Hinton, WV

The following is from an article written by KEVIN SWAYZE in The Record, Feb 16, 2007.

[1] "Creating a safe path for pedestrians across Highway 401 needn't be expensive or difficult, the
city's hiking guru says. Nor should it take long to retrofit the Franklin Boulevard bridge so walkers
and cyclists feel safer, said Bob McMullen, chair of the city's trails advisory committee."

[2] "Building sidewalks and installing concrete barriers along the existing sidewalk are "a common thing"
in the United States, where pedestrian access is a high priority, McMullen said."

[3] "The city put up No Pedestrians signs at either end of the bridge in 2002, after Lyle Prior, 83, was hit by
a car while walking over it in 2001. He later died."

[4] McMullen rejects banning pedestrians from a path they have little choice but to take.

Even though McMullen believes a makeshift solution for Franklin bridge is easily possible, his preference
is for the city to build a proper pedestrian bridge over the 401 between the Franklin and Hespeler Road interchanges.

He'd advise the city against trying to fix up the Franklin Boulevard bridge, which he says would cost
about $300,000.

[5] "Spend a million for a new pedestrian overpass to take people where they want to go," McMullen said. "I call Highway 401 our social Berlin Wall."

[6] "There are ways to make life safer for pedestrians and cyclists crossing highway interchanges,
if you plan for it", McMullen said.

[7] "Just look two kilometers to the east of Franklin Boulevard at the recently rebuilt Townline Road bridge",
he said. "As part of the $11 million Ontario-region-city project, sidewalks, crosswalks and refuges were
created for non-vehicle traffic." http://www3.sympatico.ca/bobmcmu/Virtual_tour.htm

To read the entire copy, do a search on the newspaper's website. Use the following link. www.therecord.com